SYDNEY – A joyous Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach turned into a scene of carnage on Sunday when two assailants opened fire on a crowd of over 1,000 people, killing 11 and injuring 29 others in what Australian authorities have declared a terrorist attack.
The assault occurred during the ‘Hanukkah by the Sea’ ceremony marking the first night of the Jewish festival of lights. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed the attack was deliberately orchestrated to target Sydney’s Jewish community, transforming an occasion meant for spiritual reflection and happiness into one of profound tragedy.
Law enforcement response was immediate, with one gunman fatally shot by police and the other apprehended at the scene. Among the wounded were two police officers reported to be in critical condition following the confrontation.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation, characterizing the violence as a “dark moment” for Australia and condemning the attack as an assault on the country’s fundamental values. “There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation,” he stated, while calling for national unity and vowing a comprehensive investigation.
Dramatic eyewitness footage circulated by Australian media depicted a bystander heroically tackling and disarming one attacker before the individual retreated. Simultaneously, a second shooter positioned on a nearby bridge continued firing toward the crowd from approximately 50-100 meters away.
Authorities later discovered a vehicle containing several improvised explosive devices in the Bondi area, heightening concerns about the planned scale of the attack. New South Wales Police issued urgent advisories for the public to avoid the Bondi Beach vicinity as operations continued through the evening.
The Chinese Consulate General in Sydney promptly issued a security alert for Chinese nationals residing in New South Wales, advising heightened vigilance, precautionary measures, and maintained communication channels.
Federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, have initiated a joint counterterrorism investigation to identify all individuals associated with planning and executing the attack. Acting AFP Commissioner Nigel Ryan pledged the deployment of all available specialist resources and powers to ensure a thorough investigation.