SYDNEY — Australia is confronting one of its darkest moments in decades after a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, an attack Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned as an act of antisemitism and terrorism.
According to police, 15 people — including a 10-year-old girl — were killed when gunmen opened fire during the Jewish community event on Sunday evening. Authorities say mass shootings remain extremely rare in Australia, making the Bondi attack the country’s deadliest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, a tragedy that reshaped national gun policy.
“This was a targeted act of hatred,” Albanese said, vowing to strengthen Australia’s already strict gun laws. “There is no place for antisemitism, extremism, or political violence in this country.”
New South Wales Police allege the attackers were a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son, Naveed Akram, 24, was taken to hospital. His condition has not been publicly disclosed. Police say evidence suggests the attack may have been inspired by Islamic State ideology after two IS flags were reportedly found in a vehicle linked to the suspects.
The shooting unfolded rapidly. Police received emergency calls at 6:47 p.m. local time reporting gunfire near a park along Campbell Parade. Verified videos circulating online show beachgoers fleeing in panic as shots rang out. Some footage appears to show two gunmen firing from a small bridge overlooking the park where the Hanukkah gathering was underway.
One widely shared video captures a bystander, later identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a local fruit shop owner and father of two, tackling and disarming one of the attackers. Community leaders have described his actions as “extraordinary bravery” amid chaos.
Minutes later, police arrived, returning fire and securing the area. By 10 p.m., NSW Police formally declared the incident a terrorist attack on Sydney’s Jewish community.
The attack has sent shockwaves through Australia’s Jewish population and the broader public, reviving national conversations about security, extremism, and gun access. Experts note that Australia’s post–Port Arthur gun reforms are often cited internationally as effective, but this incident underscores concerns about illegal firearms and lone-actor radicalisation.
As investigations continue, Albanese said federal and state governments will work closely to review gun controls and counter-extremism measures. Vigils are being planned across Sydney as the nation mourns victims of what many are calling a profound breach of Australia’s sense of safety.
