At least 12 people were killed and nearly 30 injured after gunmen opened fire at a Jewish holiday event at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday, in an attack Australian authorities have described as terrorism.
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New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said one suspected attacker was killed at the scene, while another remains in critical condition. A total of 29 injured people, including two police officers, were taken to hospital. Police are also investigating whether a third gunman was involved.
Bomb disposal units were deployed after several suspected improvised explosive devices were found near the site. Australia’s top intelligence official, Mike Burgess, confirmed that one of the suspects was previously known to authorities but had not been assessed as an immediate threat.
The attack occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, with police estimating that around 1,000 people were attending the event. Witnesses said gunfire lasted approximately 10 minutes, triggering panic as hundreds fled across the beach, nearby streets and parks.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee and strongly condemned the assault, calling it a “targeted attack on Jewish Australians” and describing the violence as “beyond comprehension”.
Israeli leaders sharply criticised Australia, linking the shooting to a rise in antisemitic incidents since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the attackers as “vile terrorists”, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Australian authorities to take stronger action against antisemitism.
Jewish community leaders expressed shock and grief, saying the scale of the attack was unimaginable. Muslim organisations across Australia also condemned the violence, offering condolences to the victims and calling for justice.
Video footage verified by media outlets appeared to show civilians fleeing under gunfire, with one man seen tackling and disarming a gunman before police intervened. Officers were later seen restraining suspects and attempting to provide medical aid.
The incident marks Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996 and comes nearly 11 years after the Lindt Café siege in Sydney. Authorities have vowed a full investigation as the nation mourns one of the darkest days in its recent history.
