Deadly Hanukkah Shooting at Bondi Beach: What We Know

A shooting targeting Sydney’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach has left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, and dozens more injured. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “an act of antisemitism… [and] terrorism,” vowing to strengthen gun laws in its aftermath.

Police allege the two gunmen were a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police, while his son Naveed, 24, is hospitalised with an unknown condition. Evidence suggests the attack was inspired by Islamic State, with two IS flags reportedly found in the suspects’ vehicle.

The attack, Australia’s deadliest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, unfolded on the evening of Sunday 14 December. At 18:47 local time (07:47 GMT), police received reports of gunfire near a park at Bondi Beach, where a Hanukkah event was taking place. Verified videos captured panic as attendees ran from the scene, screaming and fleeing.

Footage shows two gunmen firing from a footbridge near Campbell Parade toward the park. A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, a father-of-two and fruit shop owner, tackled one of the attackers, disarmed him, and turned the gun on the perpetrator. Mr al Ahmed was shot multiple times in the process and later visited in hospital by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

Police arrived quickly and began exchanging fire with the gunmen. By 18:57, NSW Police issued public warnings urging people to shelter, and by 22:00 the incident was officially declared a terrorist attack.

The victims range in age from 10 to 87. Among the deceased were two rabbis and a Holocaust survivor, Alexander Kleytman, who was killed while trying to shield his wife. Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, a British-born organiser of the Hanukkah event, was also killed, as was Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, a popular Chabad coordinator. International victims included an Israeli and a French citizen, Dan Elkayam.

At least 42 people were injured, with 24 hospitalised across Sydney, including three in critical condition. Four children were treated at Sydney Children’s Hospital.

The attack has sent shockwaves through Australia, a country where mass shootings are extremely rare. Authorities and community leaders have condemned the violence, calling for stronger protective measures for vulnerable communities. Albanese emphasised the need for stricter gun controls, while police continue to investigate the motive and the broader connections of the suspects.

Eyewitness accounts highlight acts of bravery amid the chaos, particularly the intervention by Ahmed al Ahmed, which prevented further casualties. Communities across Sydney have begun mourning and supporting survivors, while authorities work to piece together a full understanding of the attack.

The Bondi Beach shooting underscores the ongoing global threat of ideologically motivated violence and has reignited debates over community safety, counter-terrorism measures, and gun laws in Australia.