A Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach turned deadly on Sunday when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd of around 1,000–2,000 people, killing at least 12 and injuring several others.
A Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday turned deadly when two gunmen dressed in black opened fire on a crowd of around 1,000–2,000 attendees, killing at least 12 people and injuring several others, according to local media reports.
New South Wales Police confirmed that two suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the attack. One of the gunmen was killed in a shootout with officers, while the second shooter was wounded and arrested.
More than 50 shots were fired, causing panic along the beachfront as people fled or sought shelter indoors.
Prime Minister and international leaders respond
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the scenes at Bondi as “shocking and distressing” and said: “Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack as “vile,” adding: “…Our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach…Our hearts go out to them. The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment. As we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives. We send our warmest strength from Jerusalem.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack, calling it a “ghastly terrorist attack” targeting people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah. He wrote on X: “Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.”
Suspect identified and terror investigation underway
One of the gunmen has been identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who lived in Bonnyrigg. Australian authorities are investigating a possible terror angle, examining his immigration status, family background, and overseas links. Akram was a student at the Al-Murad Institute in Heckenberg, New South Wales, which teaches Arabic and the Quran. Authorities have carried out raids at his residence to check for signs of online radicalisation, including extremist material and Gaza-linked narratives.
Security assessments indicate that Bonnyrigg and surrounding south-west Sydney suburbs have previously been mapped in counter-terrorism exercises due to past radicalisation cases, concerns over extremist returnees, and online extremist activity. Residents have been urged to avoid the area as the zone remains under lockdown while the security operation continues. NSW Police posted on X: “The police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area… Anyone at the scene should take shelter.”
Chilling footage circulating on social media captured one of the shooters firing on a bridge at Bondi Beach, with bystanders shouting, “They are shooting, get down, get down.” Other videos showed chaos as crowds scattered and emergency personnel rushed to treat the injured. One viral clip showed an unarmed bystander confronting and overpowering a shooter.
Possible ideological motives
Intelligence assessments suggest the attack targeted a religious and cultural gathering, giving it symbolic value and high visibility. Investigators are exploring whether the shooters deliberately chose a Jewish event to spread fear or advance ideological motives.
The attack bears hallmarks of a terrorist or ideologically motivated assault, including the choice of a Hanukkah celebration, coordinated attire, two attackers, and sustained high-volume gunfire. Authorities are examining digital footprints, overseas links, and radicalisation indicators.
Rising antisemitism and warnings ignored
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents in the 12 months to 1 October, recorded by volunteer Community Security Groups and official Jewish bodies.
Israeli leaders criticised Australian authorities for ignoring warnings. Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli wrote on X: “A government that normalised boycotts against Jews solely because they are Jewish, normalised marches in which flags of Al-Qaeda, the PLO, and Hamas were openly displayed, and for two years failed to act decisively against serious antisemitic incidents, bears full responsibility for the horrific scenes we witnessed today.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called the attack “an abomination” on X, adding: “Many Jews are dead or injured. How many times did I warn Australian governments that a mass casualty terror attack is inevitable if the government didn’t do more?”
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