Australian authorities have confirmed that a father and son carried out a deadly shooting at a Jewish festival held at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a child, in what officials have condemned as an antisemitic act of terrorism.
The attack unfolded on Sunday evening as crowds gathered to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, turning one of the country’s most popular tourist locations into a scene of chaos and horror.
The two gunmen opened fire on beachgoers who had assembled for the annual celebration, which attracted more than 1,000 people. Witnesses described panic as people fled across the sand and nearby streets. Among those killed was a 10-year-old girl, while 42 others sustained gunshot wounds and various injuries and were rushed to hospitals across the city. Authorities described the incident as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the attack in the strongest terms, describing it as “an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores,” as he laid flowers at the Bondi Pavilion on Monday.
Investigators said the shooters positioned themselves on an elevated boardwalk overlooking the beach, from where they fired for approximately 10 minutes into the crowd using long-barrelled firearms.
Police eventually shot and killed the 50-year-old father at the scene, while his 24-year-old son was arrested and remains under guard in hospital with serious injuries.
Authorities later discovered a homemade bomb in a vehicle parked close to the beach, which they believe was planted by the attackers as part of the plot. While police have not yet disclosed the suspects’ ideological motivations, they said the assault was clearly designed to terrorise Australia’s Jewish community.
Amid the violence, several civilians and first responders displayed acts of bravery. Off-duty lifeguards ran toward the danger to rescue children and administer first aid to the wounded, while others used surfboards as makeshift stretchers to carry victims to safety.
One man was seen wrestling a gun away from one of the attackers as shots rang out. By Monday, Bondi Beach bore visible signs of the tragedy, with abandoned personal items scattered across the sand and locals gathering to mourn the victims.
World leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump, condemned the attack, with Trump calling it a “purely antisemitic attack.” Flags were lowered to half-mast across Australia as the nation mourned.
The shooting has also reignited debate over gun control, despite Australia’s strict firearms laws enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Authorities confirmed that the father legally owned six firearms believed to have been used in the attack.
What you should know
The Bondi Beach shooting is one of the deadliest attacks in Australia in nearly 30 years and has been officially described as an antisemitic terrorist act.
It targeted a Hanukkah celebration attended by more than 1,000 people, killing 15 and injuring dozens. A father was killed by police, while his son was arrested. A homemade bomb was also discovered near the scene.
The incident has sparked national mourning, international condemnation, and renewed discussions about security and gun laws, as authorities continue investigations into the attackers’ motives and possible links to wider extremist activity.
