Bondi Community Struggles to Cope After Two Deadly Attacks in Two Years

The Bondi area of Sydney, Australia, is grappling with trauma and fear following two violent incidents in less than two years. Residents are struggling to come to terms with the recent Hanukkah shooting, which left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, and follows last year’s stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction, which claimed six lives.

Mary, a local resident and first responder to both events, described a haunting sense of déjà vu as sirens blared and people ran in panic on 14 December. “That was when I knew there was something seriously wrong – again,” she said, recalling the chaos of the latest attack.

Authorities have declared the Hanukkah shooting a terror attack, alleging that the gunmen had prepared explosives and practised shooting weeks in advance. The incident has reopened wounds for the community still recovering from the previous stabbing tragedy, whose coroner’s inquest findings were delayed in the wake of the new violence.

In the days following the shooting, local residents have left flowers and paid tribute to the victims, while Jewish Australians marked the conclusion of Hanukkah with candlelight vigils. Despite these gestures of solidarity, the events have left many physically and emotionally scarred, shaking Australia’s sense of public safety.

Experts say the twin tragedies highlight the psychological impact of repeated acts of violence in the same community, underlining the need for ongoing support services and preventive measures. For Bondi residents, the process of healing is just beginning.