Fifteen people were killed when gunmen
attacked a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, triggering global condemnation and
renewed security measures for Jewish communities.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Australian
authorities are investigating a deadly shooting that targeted a Hanukkah
celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where police say two gunmen opened fire
on a large public gathering, killing 15 people and injuring several others.
Officials said the attack occurred on
Sunday evening as around 1,000 people gathered for a Jewish festival event on
the beachfront. Emergency services were called within minutes, and the area was
sealed off as police confronted the attackers.
The attack at Bondi Beach
New South Wales Police said two armed
men began shooting into the crowd shortly after the Hanukkah celebration had
begun. One suspect died at the scene following a police response, while the
second was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Authorities confirmed that the victims
included men, women and children, with ages ranging from 10 to 87. Among those
killed were two rabbis and a Holocaust survivor, according to community
leaders.
Verified video footage circulating on
social media showed attendees running for cover as gunshots rang out along the
beach promenade. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that further
details will be released as they are confirmed.
Impact on the Jewish community
The UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim
Mirvis, said members of his own family were present during the attack. He said
his cousin and his cousin’s wife hid under a doughnut stand for what he
described as “15 terrifying minutes” as shots were fired around them.
“People to their right and left were
being shot dead,” Sir Ephraim said, describing the incident as a direct attack
on Jewish people gathering peacefully to celebrate their faith.
Jewish leaders in Australia said the
shooting has left the community in shock and mourning, while vigils were held
in Sydney and other cities to remember the victims.
Background and verified context
The festival of Hanukkah commemorates a
historic Jewish revolt more than 2,000 years ago and is traditionally marked by
public gatherings and the lighting of menorahs. Sunday’s event at Bondi Beach
was organised as an open celebration, drawing families and visitors.
Australian officials said there was no
prior public warning of an imminent threat to the event. Police have not yet
released a final motive but said counterterrorism units are involved due to the
apparent targeting of a religious gathering.
According to preliminary information
from investigators, the attack is being treated as an act of terrorism. Authorities
cautioned that details may change as forensic and intelligence work continues.
Reactions from officials and leaders
Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese condemned the attack, calling it “an act of hatred aimed at innocent
people celebrating their faith.” He said national flags would be flown at
half-mast and pledged full support to the victims’ families.
In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir
Starmer said he had spoken with Sir Ephraim Mirvis and vowed to ensure the
safety of Jewish communities. He said there would be a “more visible security
presence” at Hanukkah events across Britain.
“This was not an isolated incident,”
Starmer said, adding that attacks on religious communities undermine democratic
values and public safety.
Community Security Trust, which monitors
antisemitism in the UK, said the Bondi Beach attack would heighten anxiety
among British Jews already facing record levels of hate crime.
What happens next
Police in New South Wales said
investigators are continuing to question witnesses and review video evidence.
Formal identification of all victims is ongoing, and authorities said families
are being supported by specialist teams.
Security has been increased around
Jewish sites and public events in several countries, including Australia and
the UK, as a precautionary measure. Officials stressed there is no confirmed
intelligence of further imminent attacks.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis said he would travel
to Sydney to meet community leaders and families affected by the shooting. He
said Jewish communities would continue to celebrate their faith publicly
despite the attack.
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Editorial Credits
Author: Sofia Martinez, Global News
Editor
Editor-in-Chief: Maria Perez
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