Ten Dead, Multiple Injured in ‘Deliberate’ Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration
Posted Sunday 14 December at 21.00hrs Sydney Time/Latest update prepared and formatted with Google Gemini AI and factchecking in the Newsroom
SYDNEY, NSW
A horrific and seemingly targeted attack has shattered a family-friendly Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, leaving ten people dead, including one of the suspected gunmen, and multiple others wounded in a mass shooting that unfolded on Sunday evening.
New South Wales (NSW) Police confirmed that the shocking incident occurred at a public event, “Chanukah By The Sea,”hosted by Chabad of Bondi to mark the first night of the Jewish Festival of Lights. Early reports suggest the attack was deliberately aimed at the community gathering.
View to Northern End of Bondi Beach /Sydney Times Archives
View to Northern End of Bondi Beach /Sydney Times Archives
Chaos Erupts as Gunmen Open Fire
The tranquility of the popular beachfront was violently broken at approximately 6:45 PM after reports of multiple gunshots began flooding the NSW Ambulance service. Hundreds of people, including families and children, were gathered in the area around Bondi Park playground when the attackers struck.
Witnesses described immediate “mayhem,” with dozens of shots ringing out, causing mass panic. Attendees were seen screaming, scattering, running over barricades, and desperately grabbing their children to escape the hail of gunfire.
-
Casualties: Police have confirmed ten fatalities, comprising nine victims and one suspected gunman.
-
Injured: At least six people have been rushed to local hospitals, including St Vincent’s, Royal Prince Alfred, and St George, with gunshot wounds. NSW Ambulance dispatched 25 units, including helicopters and intensive care units, to treat multiple patients at the scene.
-
Targeted Attack: Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), stated that the attack was likely “very deliberate and very targeted,” noting that his media director was among the wounded.
View of Southern end of Bondi Beach towards Icebergs and Ocean Pool /Sydney Times Archives
Heroic Intervention and Police Response
Disturbing video footage circulating online reportedly showed two men dressed in dark clothing crossing a bridge and opening fire. In a dramatic turn, another clip captured a tense standoff between an armed assailant and a civilian.
The video shows an unarmed man, moving cautiously between parked cars for cover, before bravely lunging at the gunman, tackling him to the ground and reportedly wresting the rifle away. This heroic act, caught on camera, is believed to have disarmed one of the assailants before he fled.
NSW Police responded rapidly, urging the public to “AVOID the area” and for anyone nearby to “take shelter.” The threat was later declared “neutralised” after police confirmed they had killed one suspected gunman and taken another two individuals into custody. The full details of the gunmen and their motivations are yet to be released as the police operation remains ongoing.
National Shock and Condemnation
The attack has been met with immediate and widespread condemnation from across the nation and internationally.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the scenes in Bondi “shocking and distressing,” confirming he had spoken with federal and state police and political leaders. NSW Premier Chris Minns echoed the sentiment, calling the reports and images coming from Bondi “deeply distressing.”
Israeli leaders also quickly condemned the attack, with President Isaac Herzog calling it a “vile” and “cruel” terrorist attack targeting Jews celebrating their holiday.
Police are continuing to investigate the tragic events and secure the area, pleading with the public to follow all official directions.
