Anthony Minichiello has revealed the horrifying moment a bullet hit his Bondi Beach apartment block during the terrorist attack that has so far left 15 victims dead.
The Sydney Roosters champion told the Daily Telegraph he was watching a movie in his apartment that faces directly towards Bondi Pavilion, when terror unfolded on Sunday evening.
Minichiello, who played 302 games for the club and has lived on Bondi Beach since 2003, is still in shock that a terror attack unfolded on one of the “most famous beaches in the world”.
“A bullet hit our building – I was watching from the window. It was crazy sh**, absolute madness,” he said.
“I was on the lounge and heard gunshots. I went to the window and thought: ‘What the hell is going on?’ … I thought, ‘Did I imagine that?’ But we then spoke to other people in the building and they definitely heard it as well.
“Then one bullet whizzed past. We heard the whistle. I thought: ‘Get down, get out of the way. Jesus Christ, this is unbelievable’. The gunfire lasted ten minutes, it was non-stop.”
This comes after Minichiello’s former club issued a touching statement on Monday acknowledging the tragic terror incident.
“The Sydney Roosters are deeply saddened by the tragic events that unfolded at Bondi Beach yesterday,” the statement read.
“Bondi Beach is an iconic place for our city and our community, and this targeted attack on the first night of Chanukah is devastating.
“Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, the Jewish community and everyone affected.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the first responders and emergency service personnel whose bravery, professionalism, and swift action made a critical difference under extraordinarily challenging circumstances.
“No community in this country should live in fear.”
Just last week players – Hugo Savala, Billy Smith, Zac Sarfati, James Finegan, and Cody Ramsay spoke with Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin and Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
Rabbi Schlanger was tragically killed in the Bondi Beach massacre on Sunday evening.
He was one of the organisers of the Chanukah event for Chabad of Bondi – serving as a rabbi and chaplain in the community for 18 years, according to Chabad.
