Videos from the scene revealed a car belonging to one of the two gunmen was towed from the beach this morning.
The beach and surrounding roads remain closed, with the local council urging people not to visit the beach as investigations continue.
However, dozens of people felt compelled to assist with the clean-up, putting items into piles for the lifeguards who were collecting them.
“People have literally just got up and run for their lives,” local Holly Harris told NewsWire as she picked up belongings.
Harris didn’t plan on helping the clean-up but said she had “no doubt” she would do so once she reached the sand.
Another local, Cameron Sargent, said he had handed in five phones to lifeguards by 6am after arriving in the dark for the clean-up.
“It’s just devastating, it’s such a dark day for Sydney,” he said.
Sydneysiders in both the Eastern and Western suburbs have expressed fears about leaving their homes.
One concerned citizen took to a local Facebook community to ask what additional areas should be avoided after hearing rumours about where the gunmen lived.
“It’s only a few minutes from where I’ll be working. I am feeling extremely anxious and can’t see any updates,” the social media user said.
Another said they were visiting in the area and were now scared to take their kids out of their home.
“I’m scared to send my kids to school tomorrow. Very anxious and heartbreaking for what happened at Bondi.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the scene of the massacre early today, laying a bouquet of flowers.
Flowers lined a fence near the scene, while a large pile of bouquets has also formed near the beach.
One woman sat with tears in her eyes watching the beach as she remembered running for her own life.
She had been getting an ice cream and talking to friends back home in London when she heard what she thought were fire crackers.
“Then I think everyone realised something was not quite right and they were saying gunshots,” she said
“I was thinking, surely not, these things just don’t happen.
“And then suddenly people were just like charging towards you.”
Locals have told NewsWire they were moved to return to Bondi despite the incident to show a sense of strength.
Tears and tributes have flowed for those killed in the shooting, now reaching at least 15.
One woman became emotional when remembering the celebratory atmosphere at the beach before the massacre unfolded.
She had left the beach just 10 minutes before the first shots rang out.
“I remembered walking off the beach. We were all we were down there a bit later than usual, and just thinking how magical this area is, and everyone there was just having the best time,” she told NewsWire.
“I did have a weird, like, intrusive thought at one point yesterday, of like, this is a lot of people. I guess, being from England, that is just, you have that kind of unnerving feeling [in crowds].”
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