Sydney: At least 12 people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after gunmen opened fire at a Jewish holiday event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday. Australian police and government officials described the attack as a terrorist incident.
One suspected gunman was shot dead at the scene, while another remains in critical condition, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said during a press conference. A total of 29 injured people, including two police officers, were taken to hospital.
Police are investigating whether a third attacker may have been involved. Bomb disposal teams were also deployed after several suspected improvised explosive devices were found nearby. Australia’s top intelligence official, Mike Burgess, said one of the suspects was known to authorities but had not previously been considered an immediate threat.
Israel criticises Australia after Bondi Beach Incident
Bondi Beach shooting marks the most serious incident in a wave of antisemitic attacks across Australia since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. These attacks have targeted synagogues, buildings, and vehicles. Mass shootings are rare in Australia, which is considered one of the safest countries globally. This was the deadliest shooting since 1996, when 35 people were killed in Tasmania.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an emergency meeting of the national security council and condemned the attack, calling it a “dark day for Australia.” He said the violence was “beyond comprehension.”
“This was a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, a day meant for joy and celebration of faith,” Albanese said. He added that police and security agencies were working to identify everyone connected to the attack.
Witnesses said the shooting lasted around 10 minutes on a busy summer evening, sending hundreds of people running across the beach and into nearby streets and parks. Police said about 1,000 people were attending the Hanukkah event at the time.
Bondi Junction resident Marcos Carvalho, 38, said he was preparing to head home when the gunfire began. He said people panicked and ran, leaving their belongings behind. Carvalho said he heard what sounded like 40 to 50 gunshots.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Jewish families who had gathered to light the first Hanukkah candle were attacked by “vile terrorists.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was shocked by the incident and criticized Australia’s government, saying repeated warnings about antisemitism had gone unheeded. He linked the attack to rising antisemitic rhetoric in the country over the past two years.
Bondi Beach, one of the world’s most famous beaches, is usually packed with locals and tourists.
Man seen tackling and disarming gunman at Bondi Beach
Bondi resident Grace Mathew said she initially thought people were simply enjoying the beach before realizing something was wrong at Bondi Beach. She said multiple people ran past her shouting that there was a shooter and people were being killed.
Muslim groups across Australia condemned the attack in a joint statement. They said such violence has no place in society and called for those responsible to face the full force of the law. They also expressed condolences to the victims, their families, and witnesses.
Videos shared on social media platform X showed people fleeing the beach and nearby parks as gunshots and police sirens rang out. One video appeared to show a man in a black shirt firing a large weapon before being tackled and disarmed by another man in a white T-shirt. Another video showed a man firing from a pedestrian bridge.
Additional footage showed two men pinned to the ground by police officers on a small pedestrian bridge. Officers were seen attempting to resuscitate one of the men. Reuters verified the videos through matching visual evidence.
The attack occurred nearly 11 years after a lone gunman took 18 hostages at Sydney’s Lindt Cafe. That standoff ended after 16 hours, leaving two hostages and the gunman dead.
Opposition Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley said Australians were in mourning, adding that hateful violence had struck the heart of an iconic community and one of the country’s most loved locations.