Australian authorities have declared a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach a terrorist attack, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to push for tougher national gun laws in response to what he described as an act of antisemitic violence.
The attack, which unfolded on Sunday evening during a Jewish community event, left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old child, and injured dozens more. Mass shootings are extremely rare in Australia, making the Bondi incident the deadliest attack in the country in nearly three decades.
How the shooting unfolded
Police say emergency calls were received shortly before 7:00 pm local time, reporting gunfire near a public park close to Bondi Beach. Officers quickly moved to secure the area, urging people to take shelter as panic spread among hundreds of attendees.
Verified footage from the scene showed crowds fleeing as shots were fired from an elevated pedestrian bridge near the beachfront. Two attackers opened fire before police engaged them.
One of the gunmen was fatally shot by officers at the scene. The second attacker, aged 24, was critically wounded and remains under police guard in hospital.
Civilians and police injured
Authorities confirmed that 42 people were taken to hospital, several with critical injuries. Two police officers were also shot during the response and were reported to be in serious condition.
Among those praised for bravery was a local bystander who intervened during the chaos, helping to disrupt the attack before police fully secured the scene. State officials credited his actions with potentially saving lives.
Victims from multiple countries
Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old, police said. Several foreign nationals were among the dead, including citizens from Israel, France, and the United Kingdom.
Tributes poured in from international leaders and religious communities, with condolences offered to the Jewish community in Australia and abroad.
What is known about the attackers
Police later confirmed the two gunmen were father and son, aged 50 and 24. The older attacker was a licensed firearm owner and legally possessed multiple weapons, which authorities believe were used in the attack.
Officials said the younger suspect had previously come to the attention of authorities years earlier but was not considered an ongoing threat at the time.
Investigations are continuing into how the attack was planned and whether others were involved.
Government response and security review
Prime Minister Albanese announced that gun control reforms will be raised at the next national cabinet meeting, including proposals to limit the number of firearms an individual can own and to strengthen periodic licence reviews.
Australia already has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. However, the Bondi shooting has renewed debate over whether further safeguards are needed.
International leaders, including the US Secretary of State and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, condemned the attack, describing it as a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism.
Community mourning and solidarity
A memorial has been established near Bondi Beach, where residents have gathered to lay flowers and pay tribute to the victims. Blood donation centers across New South Wales reported record turnout following the attack.
The shooting occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, marking the start of the eight-day Jewish festival of lights. The beachfront event, attended by around 1,000 people, was intended as a family-friendly gathering with cultural performances and activities.
As investigations continue, authorities say security will be increased around religious and public events nationwide.
