Terror at Bondi

A little girl dead. A cult on trial. A tragedy that should have never happened. The Saints unravels the harrowing story of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs, whose parents and their secretive religious group denied her life-saving medical care - choosing prayer over treatment, with fatal consequences. Award-winning journalist Pippa Bradshaw takes you inside one of Australia’s most confronting cases of religious extremism, exposing how blind faith turned deadly. With exclusive interviews, chilling police interrogations, and expert analysis, this gripping series lays bare the sinister side of excessive devotion. How did no one stop it? And could it happen again?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In January 2022, two parents were arrested on the front lawn of their Toowoomba home and charged over the death of their eight-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Struhs. In the months that followed a disturbing story unraveled of a religious cult with extreme beliefs, rejecting medical assistance and placing their complete trust in divine healing. In a rare and deeply personal interview, Elizabeth’s sister opens up about how their mother’s unwavering devotion to the cult leader shaped their childhood. She shares chilling details of life inside the cult, the suffocating control, and blind faith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who are the 14 cult members arrested over Elizabeth Struhs’ death? How did ordinary people, from teachers to police officers, become entangled in religious cult who called themselves The Saints? Estranged family members and friends break their silence for the first time. This episode breaks down the origins of this group, its members, and the shocking truth behind their decent into religious extremism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serious red flags loomed long before Elizabeth Struhs' tragic death. In 2019, she was rushed to the hospital on the brink of death. Court documents, police interrogations and expert medical testimony expose the events leading to Elizabeth’s diagnosis. Her case was so extreme, having been neglected to the point of critical illness, that her mother was jailed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just weeks after her mother’s release from prison, and with her father now in the grip of the cult, Elizabeth is left vulnerable. Deprived of her insulin, she suffers a slow and painful death. After her parents are arrested, Pippa Bradshaw tracks down the cult in Toowoomba to find answers. Months later, 12 other adults are also charged and we hear them attempt to justify their actions, through hours-long police interviews, steadfast in their belief that God will miraculously bring Elizabeth back to life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 14 cult members reject legal representation and let their police interviews do the talking in the Supreme Court of Australia. Court reporter Anna Rawlings takes us inside the unprecedented mass trial, where The Saints are confronted with testimony from medical experts, police officers and family members. After a nine-week trial, the Judge delivers a shocking verdict that will set legal precedent in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estranged loved ones of ‘The Saints’ share surreal and heartbreaking accounts of losing family to a cult. This episode reveals that The Saints isn't an outlier, but a textbook example of how cults take hold. Pippa Bradshaw is joined by forensic anthropologist and criminologist Dr. Xanthé Mallett to unpack the formation, impact and far-reaching consequences of fringe religious sects quietly embedding themselves in communities nationwide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cult is now locked behind bars, but is anyone else to blame for Elizabeth’s death? In this episode, host Pippa Bradshaw is joined by legal experts to examine allegations of multiple failures by the Child Safety Department and the many lingering questions in this case. Why were warnings from medical experts ignored? Why was Elizabeth's case closed? And why was Elizabeth left in the care of two parents convicted over allowing her to almost die the first time, especially after her mother confessed that she would continue to withhold vital medication.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24-year-old Naveed Akram is now an accused terrorist - charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder. On December 14, a former colleague immediately recognised him as one of the gunmen in the photos. In this exclusive interview with Steve Marshall, for A Current Affair, he shared shocking new details about the alleged shooter, including some of his chilling final words before he left his job.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 14, 2025, Bondi Beach became the site of the deadliest terror attack on Australian soil - 15 innocent people killed when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration. Built from eyewitness testimony and deeply personal stories gathered in the immediate aftermath, this series documents how a peaceful Sunday evening gathering became one of the darkest days in Australia’s  history. Through interviews recorded by reporters across the 2GB and Nine News teams, hear raw, unfiltered accounts from the scene; sharing their stories of fear and confusion, but also of remarkable acts of courage, bravery and humanity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just after 6.40pm on Sunday December 14, 2025, as gunshots rang out across Bondi, 2GBs Adam Buncher and Dr Ross Walker brought listeners the breaking news of an active shooting.. Speaking with 2GBs Mark Levy, Will Bottom and Ben Fordham, these are the early reports of the attack as it unfolded.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine News reporter Zac Bailey was one of the first reporters on scene - Throughout live TV coverage, he speaks with many Bondi locals who describe the panic and fear as the shooting began.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine's Damian Ryan was at the beach in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. He shares the stories of witnesses he's spoken to with reporter Massilia Aili, and he describes the chaos as emergency services decended on Bondi. An injured witness, with blood-soaked bandage around his head, describes the scene as "an absolute massacre". Speaking to Nine's Damian Ryan he says he survived the October 7 massacre and never thought he'd see this here in Australia, after arriving just two weeks ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout Sunday evening, unfathomable details and accounts were broadcast over the airwaves, as Sydneysiders called into Mark Levy, Ben Fordham and James Willis on 2GB.Among the callers - A woman at the park with her son when she saw the shooters… A man who helped shelter terrified people who’d run to a nearby restaurant for safety… A Bondi local of 50 years whose wife and daughter were there… 2GBs Jason Morrison Caught up with a man outside hospital… waiting for a friend who was wounded, as they both fled for their lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine reporter Massilia Aili spent hours at the scene, speaking to witnesses late into Sunday evening. First she speaks with a young British tourist who was on a video call with his family back home as the gunshots rang out and he ran to safety. Then hear her interview with a witness who pulled over to help a police officer who has been shot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It had very quickly become clear that a ‘Hanukkah By the Sea’ event was the target of the attack.Danny Burkovic and his family were at another Hanukkah celebration nearby. Speaking with Mark Levy and Ben Fordham on 2GB, he described the fear that spread across the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bridget Sarks and her partner Tommy were just metres from the gunmen as they got out of their car and started shooting.  She spoke with Karl & Sarah on Today the following morning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nine's Amelia Ballinger was enjoying the afternoon by the beach with friends when they heard the gunfire. She returned to Bondi the following morning to speak with Karl and Sarah on Today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the midst of the chaos, Bondi local Jacob Barnfield ran toward the gunfire. Live on Today, the following morning, he recalls storming the bridge with police as they took down the shooters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young volunteer lifeguard Trent Tur was on a break, having a surf, when the shots rang out. Speaking with Today's Karl and Sarah the following morning, he shared with Australians the bravery and courage he witnessed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.