New Delhi — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke by phone on Monday with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to convey India’s condolences and offer support after a deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The attack, which occurred during a Hanukkah gathering, left more than 15 people dead and wounded others.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said he had conveyed India’s deepest condolences about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered “our fullest support.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the violence, expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and affirmed solidarity with the Australian people.
Australian authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist attack directed at Jewish Australians celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Reports say one of the victims was a Holocaust survivor who was killed while protecting his wife.
Police have described the attackers as a father and son. Officers shot and killed the 50-year-old father at the scene; the 24-year-old son was taken to hospital. Authorities said the older man held a recreational hunting licence and executed searches, including raids at a Sydney home, as part of their investigation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to tighten gun laws, including stricter licensing rules and time limits, and reassured the Jewish community that the nation would not yield to division, violence or hatred.
Following the attack, law enforcement agencies internationally increased security at Hanukkah events and Jewish sites. In the United States, the New York Police Department said it would deploy extra resources to public Hanukkah celebrations and synagogues as a precaution.
