Sydney’s Bondi Beach was the scene of a deadly terrorist attack on Sunday when two armed assailants opened fire on a crowd gathered for the first night of Hanukkah, killing at least 11 people and wounding 29, including police, authorities said.
The assault, near the “Chanukah by the Sea” event attended by more than 1,000 people, has been declared a terrorist act targeting Sydney’s Jewish community. New South Wales Police said the shooters, dressed in dark clothing, fired indiscriminately from a footbridge overlooking the Bondi Park playground and surrounding beach shortly after 6.45 pm local time, sending families and beachgoers fleeing in panic.
Responding officers shot one attacker dead; the second is in critical condition. Investigators also found and removed a suspected improvised explosive device linked to the suspects. Eyewitnesses described “absolute chaos” as shots rang out for several minutes. Emergency teams treated many wounded at the scene before transporting them to hospitals across Sydney. Social media videos showed people ducking behind tables, rushing into cafes and trying to shield children as gunfire echoed across the beach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident as an act of “evil antisemitism” meant to strike “at the heart of our nation,” saying the attack on Jewish Australians was an attack on all Australians and promising a resolute response. “An act of evil, antisemitism and terrorism has struck the heart of our nation. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight, like me, is devastated by this attack on our way of life. There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it,” he said. He added that authorities were urgently working to identify and apprehend anyone connected to the perpetrators and pledged national unity and resolve.
A bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the shooters was widely praised, with the Prime Minister calling the bravery life-saving and heroic. “We have seen Australians run towards danger to help other Australians. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,” Albanese said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a government meeting in Dimona, accused the Australian government of fostering antisemitism, saying he had warned Prime Minister Albanese in a letter on August 17 that the government’s policy was promoting and encouraging antisemitism. “Antisemitism is like cancer that spreads when leaders stay silent and is cured when leaders act,” he added.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “ghastly terrorist attack,” expressed condolences to victims’ families and reaffirmed India’s zero tolerance for terrorism, offering solidarity with Australia. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also condemned the attack in the strongest terms and extended his thoughts to the victims and their families.
