New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has issued a robust defense of police actions during the deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed and dozens injured. The premier characterized the officers’ response as demonstrating exceptional “bravery and integrity” despite witness accounts questioning the timing of police intervention.
Minns revealed that two officers remain in critical care after sustaining frontal gunshot wounds during direct engagement with the assailants. “They weren’t shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front,” Minns emphasized during sustained media questioning, rejecting what he termed “disrespectful” rush to judgment about police performance.
The attack unfolded at approximately 18:47 local time on Sunday when gunmen initiated a ten-minute shooting spree at the popular beachside location. Police ultimately neutralized both suspects, killing one and critically wounding the other.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon addressed operational considerations, explaining that police presence is determined by “the threat that exists at the time.” He noted that while the younger alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, had been known to security agencies since 2019 due to associations, no specific intelligence indicated imminent violent risk.
Security experts provided context for the challenging circumstances officers faced. Dr. Vincent Hurley, a policing lecturer and former officer, highlighted the inherent difficulties: “There’s no training that can be done for responding to a mass shooting event like that.” He described the scene as “absolute chaos” with thousands fleeing, noting that officers had to make split-second decisions without clear protocols about whether to assist victims or pursue attackers.
The incident has occurred within a heightened security context. Operation Shelter was established after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel to investigate antisemitic hate crimes, with regular patrols conducted in areas with significant Jewish populations like Bondi. A subsequent taskforce, Strike Force Pearl, was created to address broader hate crime investigations across Sydney.