In one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings, a father and son opened fire on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration, resulting in the deaths of 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injuring at least 42 others. The horrific Sunday, December 14 afternoon attack, which drew over a thousand people to the beachfront for the Jewish festival, has sent shockwaves across the nation and immediately led to heightened security measures.
The victims of the terror attack ranged widely in age, from 10 to 87. Among the wounded were two police officers, as widespread panic seized the crowded area. Survivors described scenes of absolute chaos, with terrified crowds desperately fleeing the gunfire, leaving a trail of personal items, including shoes and blankets, scattered across the sand and surrounding locales.
Authorities identified the two attackers as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son, both of whom were armed with long-barrelled firearms. The father reportedly possessed legal ownership of multiple guns. Following the incident, the son remains in critical condition in the hospital. As part of their ongoing investigation, police have conducted raids on two Sydney properties linked to the suspects.
The following day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach and unequivocally condemned the shooting as an act of antisemitic terrorism that has “forever changed” a space known for family joy. To mourn the victims, whose ages ranged from 10 to 87, the Prime Minister announced that flags across the country would fly at half-mast.
In response to the tragedy, security has been significantly increased across Sydney, with police stepping up patrols near Jewish places of worship and residential areas. Authorities have formally declared the mass shooting a terrorist incident. The attack has drawn fierce international condemnation, with US President Donald Trump calling the act “purely antisemitic” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressing the urgent need to confront rising antisemitism worldwide.
As the chaos unfolded, survivors recounted taking cover in nearby shops and, in some cases, confronting the gunmen. The attack has caused deep grief within Australia’s Jewish community. “This is not the Australia we know,” said Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose relative was among the victims, urging the community to “stand together.” The incident occurs amid broader national concerns regarding an increase in antisemitic attacks following recent conflicts in Gaza. The investigation into the full scale of the tragedy and its circumstances remains ongoing.
