A British-born rabbi was among at least 12 people who died after a mass shooting during a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
A further 29 people were injured after two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at the iconic Australian beach on Sunday in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation.
It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun laws.
Here’s what we know so far.
At least 11 people have died, and one of the gunmen, after a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, sparking a major police and emergency services operation. Will Tullis and Helen Keenan, in Sydney, report
How did the attack unfold?
Sunday’s mass shooting happened during a ceremony marking the first night of the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah.
Emergency services were called to Campbell Parade in Bondi about 6:45 pm local time, responding to reports of shots being fired.
Video filmed by onlookers showed people in swimming costumes running from the water as shots were fired.
Separate footage showed two men in black shirts firing with rifles from a footbridge leading to the beach.
Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, told The Associated Press news agency he was waiting for his family nearby when he heard shots. He dropped the beer he was carrying and ran.
“I sprinted as quickly as I could,” Moran said. He said he heard shooting off and on for about five minutes. “Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible.”
Local resident Catherine Merchant said “it was the most perfect day and then this happened.
“Everyone was just running and there were bullets and there were so many of them and we were really scared,” she told Australia’s ABC News.
What do we know about the victims?
At least 29 people were injured, including two police officers.
Among the 11 people killed in the attack was London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, a father of five.
Mr Schlanger, 41, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and had family members of Kinloss synagogue in Finchley.
A ‘targeted attack’ on the Jewish community
Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, told a press conference in Canberra: “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith.
“An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation, an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated on this attack on our way of life.
“There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it.”
Who were the gunmen?
Details are still emerging, but Australian authorities have confirmed that one gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested but is in critical condition.
Police said they had found what they believe to be several improvised explosive devices in a car nearby, and bomb disposal units are working to make them safe.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that the dead gunman had been known to the authorities, but there had been no “specific threat”.
Videos show two men lying on their stomachs while being arrested by police. In footage of officers arresting the assailants, many large ammunition cartridges, which appear to be shotgun shells, could be seen strewn across the ground surrounding them.
Officers were also seen performing CPR on one man, while another appeared to be in handcuffs beside him.
‘A hero’
One man, since identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, was seen wrestling a gun from a suspect before pointing the rifle at the man as the gunman backed away.
His cousin Mustafa, told 7News Australia the 43-year-old fruit shop owner had sustained two bullet wounds, one in his arm and one in his hand, but is recovering well in hospital.
“Still he is in hospital and we don’t know exactly what is going on, the doctor says he is OK,” he said.
“We hope he is OK, he is a hero, 100% he is a hero.
“He has two shots, one in his arm and one in his hand, he has had to have an operation.”
State’s premier, Chris Minns, praised the bravery of civilians at the scene at a press conference.
“Tonight saw extraordinary acts of personal courage and bravery from individuals in our community.
“I think it’s worth remembering that in all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger.”
Grief and shock around the world
In a message on Sunday afternoon, the King said he and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack” at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
“My wife and I are appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people attending the Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach,” his statement said.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected so dreadfully, including the police officers who were injured while protecting members of their community.
“We commend the police, emergency services and members of the public whose heroic actions no doubt prevented even greater horror and tragedy.
“In times of hurt, Australians always rally together in unity and resolve. I know that the spirit of community and love that shines so brightly in Australia – and the light at the heart of the Chanukah festival – will always triumph over the darkness of such evil.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales said their thoughts are with every Australian following the mass shooting, in a personal message signed by William and Kate.
“Our thoughts are with every Australian today following the terrible attack at Bondi Beach.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and stand with the Jewish community in grief.
“We are also thinking about the bravery of the emergency responders, particularly the two injured officers. W & C”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on X that he was horrified, and his “heart is with the Jewish community worldwide.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “ghastly terrorist attack.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was being updated on the “appalling attack.” Police in London said they would step up security at Jewish sites.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X that “the United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration. Antisemitism has no place in this world.”
A rise in antisemitic attacks
Mass shootings in Australia are extremely rare. A 1996 massacre in the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, prompted the government to drastically tighten gun laws and made it much more difficult for Australians to acquire firearms.
But the attack follows a wave of antisemitic attacks in Australia.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” the state’s premier, Chris Minns, said.
Australia was rocked by a spate of antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne during the southern hemisphere winter. Synagogues and cars were torched, businesses and homes graffitied and Jews attacked in those cities, where 85% of the nation’s Jewish population live.
Albanese blamed Iran for two of the attacks and cut diplomatic ties to Tehran. The authorities did not make such claims about Sunday’s massacre.
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