A horrifying mass shooting on a beach in Australia claimed the lives of fifteen people and injured more than forty others. With the number injured, officials cautioned that the figure for the death toll may increase. The attack came Sunday evening at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where hundreds of families were gathered for Chanukah by the Sea. The holiday gathering marked the first night of Hanukkah.
The crowded beach came under fire around 6:47 p.m. local time. Officials say the two gunmen were firing towards the Hanukkah celebrations from a nearby pedestrian bridge that overlooked Bondi Park. The position of the gunmen gave them a clear view of the occupants of the playground area.
When the perpetrators opened fire, panic and confusion erupted. Beachgoers were captured on camera scampering away in every direction while shielding children and searching desperately for cover. Additional footage from the scene shows families crouching behind makeshift barriers, clutching chairs and personal belongings while trying to protect one another. Screams can be heard as people call out for loved ones, with police sirens audible in the distance.
One of the armed men descended the bridge and approached a grassy area, drawing nearer to the celebrations. Footage later shows when an onlooker cautiously approached the gunman and then wrestled the gun out of his hands. The bystander, later identified as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, pointed the gun at the perpetrator, who retreated at the bridge. Ahmed’s bravery was also captured on camera and has been circulating online.
Meanwhile, shots continue to be fired by the other armed man. It is believed that the police opened fire on the gunmen, killing one of them at the scene. The other preparer was injured and taken to the hospital in what is described as a critical condition.
Police later identified the shooters as a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. The son was hospitalised, while the father was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials reported that one of the shooters was on their radar, but he was not considered an immediate threat at the time.
Following the incident, police found several explosives. The devices were said to be improvised bombs and placed around the scene. Additional ones were also discovered inside a vehicle belonging to the suspects.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the shooting as a “cowardly act of terrifying violence”, stating it represented a deliberate assault on Sydney’s Jewish community.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the attack, describing it as a vile, antisemitic act of terrorism and saying it marked a deeply troubling moment for the nation.
