At least 11 people were killed and 29 others injured, including two police officers, in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney, on Sunday evening. Authorities have declared the attack a terrorist incident, noting that it specifically targeted the city’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.
Police responded to reports of gunfire at Archer Park around 6:47 p.m. local time, as witnesses described chaotic scenes of crowds fleeing for safety. Officials confirmed that two suspects were involved. One, identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was killed at the scene, while the second remains in critical condition in hospital. Police also discovered a vehicle containing suspected improvised explosive devices and deployed a bomb disposal unit.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack as “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” emphasizing that assaults on Jewish Australians affect all citizens. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns remarked on the rarity of mass shootings in Australia, calling the incident “more shocking.”
Israeli authorities reported that one Israeli citizen was killed and another injured. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed condolences, asserting that “antisemitism has no place in this world.”
Videos circulating on social media show a bystander disarming one of the gunmen. Premier Minns described it as “the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen.” The man, 43-year-old local resident Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim father of two, risked his life to stop one of the shooters and protect others on the beach.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, examining suspicious items and ensuring public safety in the surrounding area.
