Australia was reeling Sunday after a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah gathering left 15 people dead and dozens wounded.
Police said the assault unfolded today as more than 1,000 people gathered near Campbell Parade, where gunmen opened fire from a raised pedestrian bridge and street level, striking victims in rapid succession before officers engaged them. Authorities initially reported 15 deaths, later revising the toll upward as victims succumbed to their injuries.
Investigators identified the suspects as a father and son. The older man, a licensed gun owner with a decade-long permit, was shot and killed by police at the scene. His 24-year-old son, identified by officials as Naveed Akram, remains hospitalized in critical condition and is expected to face criminal charges if he survives. Police said they were no longer searching for additional suspects after earlier indications of a possible third assailant.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers recovered six licensed firearms linked to the suspects and found improvised explosive devices inside a vehicle associated with the attack. The discovery widened the investigation beyond a shooting to include potential mass-casualty planning, raising questions about how such devices were assembled and transported without detection.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the violence as a deliberate act of antisemitic terrorism aimed at Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah.
Among the injured was fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed, who was shot after confronting one of the gunmen and wrestling a weapon away, according to police and video reviewed by the media.
At least 40 people were injured, including two police officers and three children, officials said. Hospitals across Sydney activated emergency protocols as victims were transported from the beachfront and surrounding streets, while witnesses described taking cover behind cars and street fixtures as gunfire echoed for several minutes.
Investigators said they are examining acquisition records, storage compliance, and any prior warning signs that may have been missed.
Police said the investigation is now focused on motive, potential accomplices, and the origin of the explosive devices, while also assessing whether intelligence failures contributed to the scale of the attack.
As the Canadian News Hub family, we extend our condolences to the victims, their families, and the Jewish community in Australia, as well as to all those affected by an act of violence that has left lasting scars far beyond Sydney’s shoreline.