The Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney’s Bondi Beach turned into a scene of horror on Sunday night after two gunmen opened fire on a large gathering, killing at least 11 people and injuring several others. Hundreds of people had assembled at the popular beachfront location when the shooting began.
Police confirmed that one of the two suspects was shot dead, while the other is critically injured and undergoing treatment. Authorities also revealed that explosives were discovered in a car near the attack site, prompting a major security operation and the declaration of the incident as a terrorist attack.
According to Australia’s ABC News, which cited anonymous police officials, one of the suspects has been identified as Naveed Akram. However, officials have not clarified whether Akram is the deceased shooter or the one who remains critically injured. Following the attack, police raided Akram’s residence in Bonnyrigg, a suburb in Sydney’s southwest.
What Police Have Said So Far
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that one of the attackers was previously known to authorities, but stressed that the individual had only minimal prior contact with police.
“The person that we know has very, very little knowledge to the police,” Lanyon said, as quoted by ABC Australia.
“So he’s not someone that we would have automatically been looking at at this time.”
Lanyon also urged restraint as speculation spread rapidly online regarding the suspect’s nationality and social media activity.
“This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty,” he said during a press conference.
Explosives Found, Third Shooter Not Ruled Out
Police confirmed that an improvised explosive device (IED) was found inside a car linked to the deceased attacker. Several suspicious materials recovered from the surrounding area are now being examined by specialist bomb disposal teams.
An exclusion zone has been established around Bondi Beach as investigations continue.
Authorities also said they are not ruling out the involvement of a third gunman, though this has not yet been confirmed.
ASIO Monitoring Wider Threats
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said his agency is working closely with police to determine whether there are others in the community with similar intentions.
When asked whether any of the attackers were on ASIO watchlists, Burgess said:
“One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here.”
Investigation Ongoing
With the attack officially declared an act of terrorism, authorities have launched a multi-agency investigation involving state police, counter-terror units, and intelligence agencies. Officials said more details would be shared once facts are verified and the immediate threat is fully assessed.