Fifteen people were killed when two
gunmen attacked a Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, prompting a
terrorism investigation. Authorities said.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Australian authorities are
investigating a mass shooting that killed 15 people at a Jewish festival on
Sydney’s Bondi Beach, an attack officials described as antisemitic terrorism.
Police said the shooting occurred on Sunday evening as crowds gathered to mark
the start of Hanukkah at the popular coastal site.
The victims included a 10-year-old
child, according to police and government statements. At least 42 others were
taken to hospital with gunshot wounds and related injuries. Details remain
subject to ongoing investigation, officials said.
The attack at Bondi Beach
Police said a father and adult son
opened fire from a raised boardwalk overlooking the beach, where more than
1,000 people had assembled for the annual celebration. The shooting lasted
about 10 minutes before officers intervened.
Authorities said the 50-year-old father
was shot dead by police at the scene. The 24-year-old son was arrested and
remained under police guard in hospital with serious injuries. Police said both
suspects were carrying long-barrelled firearms.
Several hours after the shooting,
investigators located a homemade explosive device in a car parked near the
beach. The device was rendered safe, and police said it was believed to be
linked to the suspects, according to preliminary information.
Significance and impact
The attack is one of the deadliest mass
shootings in Australia in decades, a country where such incidents have been
rare since sweeping gun law reforms following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Authorities lowered flags to half-mast nationwide as tributes were laid near
the Bondi Pavilion.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
condemned the shooting, calling it “an act of antisemitism” and “an act of
terrorism,” according to remarks released by his office. He laid flowers at the
scene on Monday and said the government would review security and gun laws in
light of the attack.
Jewish community leaders said the
incident had deeply shaken Australia’s Jewish population. Rabbi Mendel Kastel
told media that a member of his family was among those killed and urged unity
in the face of violence.
Background and verified context
Police said the festival targeted is
held annually to mark Hanukkah and typically draws large crowds to Bondi Beach
during the summer season. The New South Wales Police Force said it is working
with federal agencies to determine the suspects’ motives and any wider
connections.
Commissioner Mal Lanyon said
investigators were avoiding speculation about ideology while evidence is
gathered. “We want to understand the motives behind it,” he said, adding that
official confirmation of certain details had not yet been released.
Mass shootings are uncommon in Australia
following strict firearm controls introduced in the late 1990s. Officials said
the father legally owned several licensed firearms, which are believed to have
been used in the attack, based on early findings.
Reactions and official perspectives
World leaders expressed condemnation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Australia’s government of
failing to stem antisemitism in recent months, while the United States
president described the shooting as a “purely antisemitic attack,” according to
official statements.
Iran’s foreign ministry denounced the
violence, rejecting any association with the incident. Earlier this year,
Australia accused Iran of directing a wave of antisemitic attacks, allegations
Tehran has denied.
Emergency services and bystanders were
credited with rescuing victims during the chaos. Surf Life Saving New South
Wales said off-duty lifeguards helped move children and administer first aid
under fire. Witness accounts described people using surfboards as makeshift
stretchers.
What happens next
Police said the surviving suspect is
expected to be questioned once medically cleared. Charges have not yet been
formally announced. Authorities said the investigation will examine the
explosive device, firearm licensing records, and potential planning or
accomplices.
The federal government said it would
consult state leaders on security for public events and consider whether
legislative changes are required. Officials cautioned that details may evolve
as inquiries continue.
Editorial Credits
Author: Sofia Martinez, Global News Editor
Editor-in-Chief: Maria Perez
Photo Credit: Bondi Beach © DAVID GRAY / AFP