Sydney, Australia — Authorities say at least 16 people were killed and approximately 40 others wounded in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, an attack officials have described as an act of antisemitic terrorism targeting a public Hanukkah celebration.

The violence erupted shortly after 6:40–6:45 p.m. local time during a large public gathering known as “Chanukah by the Sea,” held along Campbell Parade at one of Australia’s most popular beaches.

Thousands of people were in the area at the time, including hundreds attending the Jewish community event marking the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.

According to New South Wales Police, two gunmen opened fire, discharging dozens of rounds and causing widespread panic as beachgoers fled the shoreline.

Video recorded by witnesses shows people running from the water and promenade as gunfire rang out, while separate footage appears to show two men dressed in black firing long guns from an elevated footbridge behind the surf club.

Police have provided varying casualty figures as victim identification continues, but officials now confirm:

• At least 16 people killed
• Approximately 40 people injured, including two police officers
• One suspect fatally shot by police
• A second suspect arrested and hospitalized in critical condition

One of the suspected attackers has been identified as Naveed Akram, 24, according to law enforcement sources.

Police confirmed that one gunman was previously known to security services, though there was no specific or imminent threat warning prior to the attack.

Investigators are also examining suspicious items, including possible improvised explosive devices discovered inside one of the suspect’s vehicles.

Authorities have identified the bystander who intervened during the attack as Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, who is being widely praised for his bravery.

Police say Al Ahmed tackled and disarmed one of the attackers amid the gunfire.

He was shot twice during the confrontation and transported to a hospital. Officials report that he is expected to recover.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the shooting, calling it “antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation.”
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated plainly:

“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community.”

Chabad, the Orthodox Jewish organization that sponsored the event, confirmed that Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and one of the event’s organizers, was among those killed.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed the death of an Israeli citizen, without releasing further details.

International leaders expressed condolences following the attack.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had posted Hanukkah greetings shortly before news of the shooting emerged, later issued a statement mourning the victims.

Australian leaders and Israel’s president likewise condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with the Jewish community.

The Bondi Beach massacre is being described as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, occurring in a country known for strict gun control laws.

It comes amid a documented surge in antisemitic incidents nationwide, including assaults, vandalism, threats, and arson attacks on synagogues, homes, and businesses—particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, where the majority of Australia’s Jewish population resides.

According to the government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, reported antisemitic incidents increased more than threefold in the year following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Police continue to secure the area and investigate the full scope of the attack, including the suspects’ motives, potential accomplices, and whether additional threats exist.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant as the investigation remains active.