Sydney, Australia – A horrific mass shooting unfolded on Sunday at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most iconic locations, leaving at least 12 people dead and nearly 30 others injured. Authorities, including New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, quickly designated the incident a “terrorist attack” specifically targeting the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.
Targeted Attack on Hanukkah Celebration
The violence erupted at approximately 6:47 p.m. (AEDT) near the Bondi Pavilion during a large public event called “Chanukah by the Sea,” which was hosted by the Chabad of Bondi. Over 1,000 people were reportedly in attendance for the celebration.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese swiftly condemned the attack, calling it “an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism, that has struck the heart of our nation.” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also confirmed the intention, stating the attack “was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community.”
Attack Details and Casualties
Police confirmed that two gunmen, dressed in black and reportedly using long-arm weapons like shotguns and rifles, opened fire on the crowds. The current casualty figures are:
- Fatalities: 12 people, including one of the alleged shooters who was fatally shot by police.
- Injured: At least 29 people were transported to various hospitals, with injuries including two police officers. A second alleged shooter was arrested and is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
- Suspect Identified: One of the gunmen has been identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, whose home in Bonnyrigg is being raided as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police also reported finding and removing a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) from a car linked to the deceased offender on Campbell Parade, the main road behind the beach, indicating the attack may have involved an attempted bombing.
Heroism Amidst the Horror
Dramatic footage broadcast by Australian media showed extraordinary acts of civilian bravery. One bystander, a 43-year-old man, was filmed tackling and successfully disarming one of the gunmen before turning the weapon on him, an act of heroism widely praised by Prime Minister Albanese.
Rare Violence in Australia
The mass shooting has deeply shocked Australia, where mass shootings are extremely rare due to the tight gun control laws enacted following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which killed 35 people. Sunday’s attack is the second-deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 tragedy and the deadliest terror incident in the country’s history.
The attack comes amid a documented increase in antisemitic incidents in Australia since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023. Authorities, including ASIO, confirmed one of the offenders was known to them, though not considered an immediate threat.
Timeline of Recent Australian Mass Shootings
| Date | Location | Description | Fatalities |
| Dec. 14, 2025 | Bondi Beach, Sydney | Terrorist attack targeting a Hanukkah ceremony. Two gunmen opened fire on a crowd of over 1,000 people. | 12 (including one shooter) |
| Dec. 12, 2022 | Wieambilla, Queensland | Gunbattle involving two police officers and extremist Christian conspiracy theorists. | 6 |
| June 4, 2019 | Darwin, Northern Territory | Parolee fatally shot four men and wounded a woman. | 4 |
| May 11, 2018 | Margaret River, Western Australia | Farmer killed six family members before killing himself. | 7 |
| Dec. 16, 2014 | Lindt Café, Sydney | Hostage crisis where an Iranian-born cleric took 18 people hostage; ended with police storming the cafe. | 3 (including the hostage-taker) |
| Sept. 8, 2014 | Lockhart, New South Wales | Farmer shot his wife and three children before killing himself. | 5 |
| April 28, 1996 | Port Arthur, Tasmania | Gunman Martin Bryant killed 35 people in a rampage, leading to sweeping gun law reforms. | 35 |