Two Gunmen Kill 11 at Bondi Beach Jewish Event, Police Declare Terror Attack

Two gunmen opened fire on a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 29. Police declared the attack a terrorist incident, and one suspect was shot dead while the second was arrested.

The Attack

Hundreds gathered for “Chanukah by the Sea,” a beachside event marking the start of the Hanukkah festival. Two gunmen fired indiscriminately, killing 11 and leaving 29 injured, including two police officers. One gunman was killed by police gunfire, while the other was taken into custody.

Police and Emergency Response

Emergency services were dispatched to Campbell Parade around 6:45 p.m. after reports of gunfire. Ambulances transported wounded victims to hospitals, and a massive response was underway as police examined suspicious items in the area. An improvised explosive device was found in one of the suspect’s cars.

Mal Lanyon, the police commissioner for New South Wales, said the death toll was “fluid” and that injured people were still arriving at hospitals. Police said their operation was “ongoing” and that a number of suspicious items located in the vicinity were being examined by specialist officers.

Statements from Officials

Premier Chris Minns said the attack was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community.” He added, “Our heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community tonight. I can only imagine the pain that they’re feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement saying, “The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives.”

A dramatic video, filmed by a member of the public and shown on Australian television, captured an individual tackling and disarming one of the gunmen before pointing the weapon at him.

Witness Accounts

Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, was waiting for family nearby when he heard the shots. He told the Associated Press, “You heard a few pops, and I freaked out and ran away. … I started sprinting. I just had that intuition. I sprinted as quickly as I could.” He added that “Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible.” Moran said he heard shooting “off and on for about five minutes.”

Context and Historical Background

Mass shootings are rare in Australia. The 1996 Port Arthur massacre killed 35 people and led to strict gun‑law reforms. More recent incidents include a 2014 murder‑suicide that killed five people and a 2018 event that claimed seven lives. In 2022, three Christian extremist gunmen shot and killed two police officers in Queensland before being killed by officers after a six‑hour siege.

The incident was reported by McGuirk from Melbourne and Graham‑McLay from Wellington, New Zealand.

Key Takeaways

• Two gunmen killed 11 people and wounded 29, including two police officers, at a Bondi Beach Jewish event.
• Police declared the attack a terrorist incident and arrested one suspect while the other was shot dead.
• An improvised explosive device was found in a suspect’s car, and emergency services were called to the scene at 6:45 p.m.

The tragedy has left the Australian Jewish community and the wider public in shock, with leaders calling for solidarity and support for those affected.