Gunmen Kill 16 People During Hanukkah Celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach

A shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney resulted in 16 fatalities, including a child. Prime Minister Albanese labelled the incident as antisemitic terrorism, highlighting the broader concerns of rising antisemitism in Australia.

An attack on Sydney's Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration resulted in 16 fatalities, including a child, according to Australian officials. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described it as an antisemitic terrorist act. Hundreds had gathered for the event when two gunmen opened fire, injuring at least 38 others. New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed the death toll rose from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child.

Authorities reported that one gunman was killed by police, while the other was arrested and remains in critical condition. The police stated that one of the attackers was known to security services but there was no specific threat beforehand. Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales, confirmed that at least 29 people were wounded, including two officers. Suspicious items, such as improvised explosive devices, were found in one suspect's car.

Targeted Attack on Jewish Celebration

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated that the attack specifically targeted Sydney's Jewish community. The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands were at Bondi Beach for the Chanukah by the Sea event. Chabad, an Orthodox Jewish movement, identified Rabbi Eli Schlanger as one of the deceased. He was an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organiser of the event.

Emergency services responded to reports of shots fired on Campbell Parade around 6:45 pm. Videos captured by witnesses showed people fleeing in bathing suits as shots were fired. Footage also showed two men in black shirts firing long guns from a footbridge leading to the beach. A dramatic clip aired on Australian television depicted a man tackling and disarming one of the gunmen.

Witnesses Describe Chaos

Arsen Ostrovsky, attending the Hanukkah ceremony with his family, was grazed by a bullet. He recently moved from Israel to Australia for work with a Jewish advocacy group. "What I saw today was pure evil," he said in an email from the hospital. Lachlan Moran from Melbourne recounted dropping his beer and running when he heard shots, describing the scene as chaotic and distressing.

Prime Minister Albanese expressed his devastation over the massacre, calling it a targeted attack on Jewish Australians during Hanukkah. He emphasised national unity in response to this act of terrorism. King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their sadness over the attack, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared his horror on social media.

Global Reactions and Security Measures

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack on social media, stating that antisemitism has no place in the world. Police in cities worldwide, including London, announced increased security measures at Jewish sites following the incident.

Australia has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents since October 2023, following conflicts involving Hamas and Israel. Last year saw attacks in Sydney and Melbourne targeting synagogues and Jewish-owned properties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Australia's government for not addressing antisemitism effectively.

Rare Mass Shootings in Australia

Shooting deaths are uncommon in Australia due to strict gun control laws enacted after a 1996 massacre in Port Arthur where 35 people died. Significant mass shootings since then include two murder-suicides and a shootout involving Christian extremists in Queensland last year.

With inputs from PTI