SYDNEY
Australian authorities have declared the deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach a terrorist incident, after gunmen opened fire on crowds celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, officials confirmed Monday.
The attack took place on Sunday evening near Archer Park at Bondi Beach during a public event called “Chanukah by the Sea,” which drew around 1,000 attendees. Two gunmen, a father and son, opened fire from a nearby footbridge, discharging multiple rounds over several minutes. Among the victims were a 12-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor, while more than 40 others were wounded, including two police officers who responded to the attack.
One of the attackers, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by police at the scene. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, remains hospitalized under police guard in critical but stable condition. Authorities also discovered improvised explosive devices in a vehicle linked to the suspects, which were safely neutralized by bomb disposal teams.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon officially labeled the shooting a terrorist incident, citing the nature of the attack, the target, and the weapons used. The Counter-Terrorism Command has taken the lead on the investigation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence as “pure evil,” describing it as an act of antisemitism and terror targeting Australia’s Jewish community on the first night of Hanukkah. He convened national security meetings to coordinate the response and pledged support for victims and their families.
Police Commissioner Lanyon said investigators do not currently believe there was a third gunman, but searches and forensic work continue as part of the complex investigation. Amid the chaos, footage circulated showing a bystander tackling and disarming one of the attackers, an act officials said likely saved many lives. The man, identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed, was wounded but survived and is recovering.
Leaders across Australia and abroad have condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with victims and denouncing antisemitism. The Bondi Beach shooting is the deadliest mass shooting on Australian soil since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and has intensified calls for tighter gun laws and enhanced security measures. Prime Minister Albanese signaled that firearm reform and counter-terrorism strategies will be reviewed in the wake of the tragedy.
As Sydney mourns the victims, authorities continue their investigation into the motive and any potential wider networks, while communities come together in vigils and remembrance of those lost in the attack.
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