A mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday left at least 11 people dead and dozens injured in what police have described as a targeted attack on Australia’s Jewish community.
Police confirmed at least 29 people were injured. Of the two suspected attackers, one is in custody in critical condition, while the other was shot dead at the scene. Authorities have not disclosed their identities.
The attack occurred during a Hanukkah celebration organised by the Australian-Jewish community centre Chabad of Bondi, which had attracted over 1,000 attendees for an event titled “Chanukah by the Sea,” promoted as a family-friendly gathering with music, games, and entertainment.
Police said the assault was deliberately aimed at Sydney’s Jewish community. Given the timing on the first day of Hanukkah, the weapons used, and the attackers’ actions, the incident was quickly declared a terrorist attack.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, stating, “Your fellow Australians stand with you tonight in condemning this act of terror,” adding that the country would never submit to “division, violence or hatred.”
As night fell, the area remained cordoned off with heavy police presence. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the attack as “horrifying” and praised a bystander who wrestled a firearm from one of the attackers, calling him a “genuine hero.”
Police found an improvised explosive device in a vehicle linked to the deceased attacker and are investigating whether a third perpetrator was involved. The shooting has been officially classified as a terrorist incident, with authorities urging calm.
In response, the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies advised people to stay home or in shelter and closed all communal events and institutions.
The attack drew international condemnation. Leaders from New Zealand, the UK, France, the EU, Ireland, the Netherlands, Israel, and the US expressed solidarity with Australia and the Jewish community, denouncing the antisemitic violence.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Australia to take significant action in response to a perceived rise in antisemitism, while the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the attack “horrific” and emphasized that antisemitism has no place in the world.
The Jewish Council of Australia described the incident as a “horrific act of antisemitic violence during the Jewish festival of light and hope,” highlighting the profound impact on the community. (Agencies)
