Australian authorities are investigating a deadly mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, an attack now formally declared a terrorist incident by police. On Sunday evening, 14 December, around 1,000 people attended a public event near the beachfront pavilion, where the violence unfolded.
Police say two gunmen opened fire from an elevated position near Campbell Parade, directing sustained gunfire toward the park where families had gathered. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, and at least 42 others were injured. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 and included religious leaders and a Holocaust survivor. Two police officers were also shot while responding, and they remain hospitalised in a serious but stable condition.
The alleged attackers were identified by investigators as a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24. Sajid Akram, who was shot dead by police at the scene, was a licensed firearm owner with access to six weapons under Australia’s recreational hunting framework. His son, an Australian-born citizen, was wounded and remains under police guard in hospital.
The prime minister described the shooting as an “act of antisemitism… [and] terrorism”, while police confirmed that improvised explosive devices were also located and rendered safe. Authorities say evidence recovered from the suspects’ vehicle, including Islamic State flags, suggests ideological motivation, with Philippine authorities confirming that the shooters had recently visited the country, particularly a region that has been infamous for extremism. Investigators are examining whether the visit had any operational significance.
Mass shootings are considerably rare in Australia, and the Bondi shooting has been the deadliest incident since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, a turning point that reshaped the country’s gun control regime. As a response, the federal government has announced plans to raise firearm licensing limits and introduce more frequent reviews. A national cabinet meeting will discuss the proposals.
The attack has received much international attention and raised geopolitical questions regarding domestic extremism, cross-border radicalisation, and intelligence-sharing among allies. Leaders from Israel, the United States, Europe and the Vatican have expressed condolences, while community vigils and blood donation drives have taken place across New South Wales.
The Hanukkah event, organised by the Chabad movement, had been scheduled as a family-friendly celebration marking the start of the Jewish festival of lights. Police continue to investigate the plan, motivations and any external connections linked to the attackers.
