SYDNEY — A festive Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach descended into tragedy Sunday evening when two assailants opened fire on attendees, resulting in one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings in nearly three decades. The attack claimed 15 lives, including a child and elderly victims ranging from 10 to 87 years old, while leaving at least 42 others wounded, several in critical condition.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence as “an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism” that had forever tarnished the beloved coastal landmark known for family gatherings and celebrations. The shooting occurred during the Chanukah by the Sea event marking the beginning of the Jewish festival, where hundreds had gathered for festivities that included face painting and petting zoo attractions.
Authorities identified the perpetrators as a father-son duo, with the 50-year-old primary shooter fatally wounded by police response teams. His 24-year-old son sustained injuries and remains hospitalized under guard. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed one gunman was previously known to security services but noted there had been no intelligence indicating an imminent attack.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as beachgoers in bathing suits fled from gunfire that persisted for approximately five minutes. Dramatic footage captured a civilian heroically disarming one attacker before restraining him. The violence represents the culmination of escalating antisemitic tensions across Australia, where reported incidents have tripled since the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict according to government reports.
International leaders including King Charles III, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed horror and solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian authorities for insufficient action against antisemitism, linking the tragedy to Australia’s recent recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Forensic teams discovered two rudimentary explosive devices at the scene, though police confirmed they had been safely disabled. The investigation continues as Australia confronts both its strict gun control policies and rising religious tensions that have manifested in synagogue arsons, vandalism, and physical assaults against Jewish communities in recent months.