Australian authorities declared the Bondi Beach shooting a terrorist attack after gunmen targeted a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
At least 11 people were killed and dozens more wounded Sunday after two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish community event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Australian authorities said, declaring the massacre a terrorist attack. One of the attackers was shot dead by police, while the second was arrested and taken into custody in critical condition.
Emergency officials said a massive response was launched as ambulances rushed the injured to hospitals. At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as victims continued to arrive at medical facilities.
Video footage shared on social media showed chaotic scenes at the beach, including two gunmen firing, emergency workers treating victims on the sand, and a bystander intervening to disarm one of the attackers before that individual fled. One widely circulated post described the incident as “Pure horror,” stating, “The Chanukah massacre at Bondi Beach. Jews were just gunned down in broad daylight. This is Australia. Don’t look away,” in a message posted by Jews Fight Back alongside video from the scene.
Additional footage showed police securing the area, emergency vehicles lining the beachfront, and paramedics continuing to treat the injured as officers cleared bystanders from the scene.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said. Lanyon said the incident met the legal threshold for terrorism based on the event targeted and the weapons used.
Hundreds of people had gathered for an event known as Chanukah by the Sea, held to mark the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The shooting erupted during the evening hours as families and community members were assembled along the beachfront.
Broadcast footage aired on Australian television appeared to show a member of the public tackling and disarming one of the gunmen, then pointing the weapon at the suspect while others fled the scene.
Lachlan Moran, 32, of Melbourne, said he was waiting nearby for his family when he heard gunfire. Speaking to The Associated Press, he said he dropped the beer he was carrying for his brother and ran.
“You heard a few pops, and I freaked out and ran away. … I started sprinting. I just had that intuition. I sprinted as quickly as I could,” Moran said. He said the shooting continued intermittently for about five minutes.
“Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible,” he said.
Police said their operation remained ongoing late Sunday as specialist officers examined a “number of suspicious items located in the vicinity,” including an improvised explosive device found inside one of the suspect’s vehicles. Emergency services were first called to Campbell Parade at about 6:45 p.m. following reports of shots being fired.
Local media outlets reported scenes of chaos, describing distressed and bloodied bystanders seeking help. Lanyon said the death toll remained “fluid” as authorities continued to account for victims.
“Our heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community tonight,” Minns told reporters in Sydney. “I can only imagine the pain that they’re feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement that his thoughts were with those affected. “The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing,” he said. “Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives.”
Mass shooting deaths are rare in Australia. A 1996 massacre in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in which 35 people were killed, led to sweeping gun law reforms that significantly restricted civilian access to firearms.
Since then, major mass shootings have been infrequent. This century has seen two murder-suicides with death tolls of five in 2014 and seven in 2018. In 2022, two police officers were killed in a shooting by Christian extremists on a rural property in Queensland, where the three attackers were later shot dead by police following a prolonged siege.
Authorities said the investigation into the Bondi Beach attack was continuing as forensic teams processed the scene and counterterrorism officials assessed potential accomplices and wider threats.
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