At least 11 people were killed on Sunday after two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, an attack Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned as an act of terrorism and antisemitism.
The shooting, which occurred at one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, is the deadliest mass shooting in the country in nearly 30 years, despite its strict gun control laws. It followed a series of antisemitic incidents that have unsettled Australia over the past year, although authorities have not indicated any direct link between those events and the attack.
Police confirmed that one of the gunmen was shot dead at the scene, while the second suspect was arrested and remains in critical condition. Officials said one of the attackers was previously known to security agencies, though there had been no specific intelligence warning of an imminent threat.
At least 29 people were injured, including two police officers, according to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. Authorities also reported discovering several suspicious items, including improvised explosive devices, in one of the suspect’s vehicles.
The attack deliberately targeted a Jewish gathering, officials said. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated that the shooting was intended to strike Sydney’s Jewish community, while police formally classified it as a terrorist incident based on the nature of the target and the weapons used.
Hundreds of people had assembled for “Chanukah by the Sea,” a public event marking the beginning of the eight-day Hanukkah festival. The Chabad movement, which organised the event, confirmed that one of those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organiser of the celebration.
Video footage shared by witnesses appeared to show two armed men firing from a pedestrian bridge leading to the beach. One clip showed a civilian tackling and disarming one of the attackers before securing the weapon. Premier Minns later described the man’s actions as heroic.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic as gunfire erupted. Police said emergency calls were received around 6:45 p.m. local time from Campbell Parade, reporting shots fired.
Lachlan Moran, a witness visiting from Melbourne, said he fled immediately after hearing gunshots. “I heard a few pops and just ran. Everyone dropped what they were holding and scattered. People were crying—it was terrifying,” he said.
The attack unfolded at the close of a busy summer day, with thousands of people gathered along the shoreline. Local resident Catherine Merchant described the sudden chaos, saying, “It was a perfect day, and then suddenly people were running, shots were ringing out, and everyone was terrified.”
Authorities continue to investigate the incident as Australia mourns one of its deadliest acts of mass violence in decades.
