At least 11 people — including children and a police officer — were killed and nearly 29 others injured after gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, in what authorities say was a targeted and pre-planned terrorist attack.
The shooting unfolded on Sunday evening at “Chanukah by the Sea,” a public event marking the first night of Hanukkah. Hundreds had gathered near Bondi Beach Park when gunfire suddenly erupted, sending families, children, and onlookers scrambling for cover.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the massacre was clearly aimed at the Jewish community, noting that investigators had declared it a terrorist attack based on the nature of the event and the weapons used. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon warned that the death toll remained “fluid” as several critically injured victims continued to arrive at hospitals.
One gunman was shot dead at the scene, while a second attacker — who was also shot — was arrested and remains in critical condition. Police later identified one of the perpetrators as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, whose home in Bonnyrigg was raided as officers combed through evidence. Police sources said early findings suggested the assault had been planned months in advance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the massacre as an assault on Australia’s values, calling it “a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah — a day that should have been filled with joy.” He convened an emergency National Security Committee meeting as agencies worked to determine whether more individuals were involved.
Dramatic video footage from the scene showed a bystander heroically tackling and disarming one of the gunmen, seizing his weapon in a struggle that may have prevented further casualties. Other clips captured police performing CPR on victims, crowds fleeing across Campbell Parade, and a second shooter firing from an elevated walkway. Witnesses said the attackers appeared to use multiple firearms and wore ammunition belts.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of terror and confusion. Residents saw victims lying on the ground as sirens filled the air. Parents recounted how their children, playing or swimming nearby, were rushed into homes and shops for shelter.
The attack has shocked Australia, where mass shootings have been extremely rare since major gun law reforms following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Bondi Beach — one of the country’s most iconic public spaces and a major tourist hub — was quickly sealed off as police continued searching for possible explosive devices after receiving an unconfirmed report about one placed under a pedestrian bridge.
Officials have vowed a full investigation, promising that every link to the attack — whether logistical, ideological, or financial — will be pursued to its end.
