SYDNEY – Australian authorities have confirmed a devastating death toll of 16 individuals following a mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach during a Jewish holiday celebration. The attack, now officially classified as a terrorist incident, represents Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon identified the perpetrators as a father and son duo – a 50-year-old licensed firearm holder and his 24-year-old son. The older assailant, who legally possessed six firearms, was killed at the scene during the Sunday evening attack that unfolded at approximately 6:47 PM local time.
The victims, ranging in age from 10 to 87 years old, included both attendees of the Hanukkah celebration and one of the attackers. Fourteen individuals lost their lives at the beachfront location, while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital care. Additionally, 40 victims remain hospitalized with various injuries, five of whom are in critical condition.
Commissioner Lanyon confirmed that approximately 1,000 people were gathered for the first night of Hanukkah festivities when the shooting erupted. While the investigation into precise motives continues, authorities have unequivocally designated the violence as a terrorist act.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as an act of “pure evil” and pledged comprehensive government action to combat antisemitism. “It is a scourge and we’ll eradicate it together,” the Prime Minister declared, emphasizing national unity in response to the tragedy.
This incident marks the most lethal mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 35 lives and prompted sweeping reforms to the nation’s gun control legislation. The Bondi Beach attack has reignited discussions about national security protocols and firearm regulations across the country.