By The Sydney Morning Desk
Last Updated:
SYDNEY — A festive summer evening marking the beginning of Hanukkah turned into a scene of carnage on Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and nearly 30 injured in what authorities have confirmed was a targeted antisemitic terrorist attack at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach.
New South Wales Police have launched a massive counter-terrorism investigation after two gunmen, dressed in tactical black gear and armed with long-range firearms, opened fire on the "Hanukkah by the Sea" celebration near the Bondi Park Playground shortly before 7:00 PM.
Police have identified 24-year-old Naveed Akram as one of the key suspects in the shooting. Among the 12 confirmed dead is one of the assailants, who was shot by police at the scene. The second gunman was apprehended and is currently in critical condition under heavy police guard.
A Community in Shock
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as shots rang out over the noise of the ocean and holiday music. Families gathered for the lighting of the Menorah were sent scrambling for cover along Campbell Parade.
"It happened so fast. One minute we were singing, the next there was popping, like firecrackers, but it didn't stop," said one witness who was attending the event with her children. "Then the screaming started. People were just running into the water, running into shops, anywhere to get away."
Emergency services flooded the area within minutes. NSW Ambulance deployed over 40 crews and multiple helicopters to triage victims. Of the 29 people transported to hospitals across Sydney, several remain in critical condition, including at least one child and two police officers who were first responders to the scene.
"Targeted Act of Evil"
In a late-night press conference, NSW Premier Chris Minns did not mince words, labeling the shooting a "horrifying, evil attack" specifically designed to strike fear into the Jewish community.
"This was not a random act of violence," Minns said, flanked by Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. "This was a targeted assault on innocent families celebrating their faith. To the Jewish community, I say: you are not alone. All of Australia mourns with you tonight."
Police Commissioner Lanyon confirmed that the Joint Counter Terrorism Team is leading the inquiry into Naveed Akram and his accomplice. He revealed that in addition to the firearms—identified as a 12-gauge shotgun and a straight-pull rifle—police located and neutralized suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a vehicle linked to the attackers on Campbell Parade.
"We believe the threat has been contained," Lanyon stated, though he urged the public to avoid the Bondi Beach precinct as forensic teams continue their grim work.
National Condemnation
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation late Sunday evening, calling the attack "shocking and distressing."
"There is no place in Australia for such hatred," Albanese said. "We are a nation of peace and tolerance. Those who seek to divide us through violence will not succeed."
Echoes of the Past
The tragedy has reopened wounds for a community still healing from the mass stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024, which claimed six lives. However, authorities have been quick to distinguish Sunday's shooting from that event. While the 2024 attack was attributed to severe mental health issues, Sunday’s massacre, led by suspects including Naveed Akram, is being treated as an ideologically motivated terror offense.
As dawn approaches on Monday, a heavy police presence remains at Bondi Beach. The area has been cordoned off, and a makeshift memorial has already begun to form at the perimeter, where locals are leaving flowers in the dark.