Two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration at Australia's iconic Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday, killing at least 15 people in what officials have declared a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
The big picture: The assault that injured dozens of people in Australia's most populous city comes amid a surge in antisemitic violence that has alarmed Jewish communities worldwide.
- This is the deadliest attack in the country since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre prompted the then conservative government enact strict gun control laws — and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged Monday to further strengthen legislation.
The latest: Albanese said in a statement after convening a national Cabinet meeting that Australian state and territory leaders had agreed that a "strong" response was needed on gun law reform "as an immediate action."
State of play: The attack in the New South Wales state capital began around 6:45pm local time as about 1,000 people gathered at a "Chanukah by the Sea" event organized by the Chabad of Bondi.
- NSW police killed a 50-year-old man believed to be a shooter, while a second suspect, a 24-year-old man, was hospitalized in critical condition. Police identified the pair as a father and son.
- A bystander tackled a gunman and wrestled away his weapon, an act NSW Premier Chris Minns said made the man, identified as Ahmed el Ahmed, a "genuine hero" who saved "the lives of countless other people."
- State police said 15 people, plus one of the suspected shooters, had died, and 40 people remained in the hospital on Sunday.
Zoom in: The ages of the victims who died ranged from 10 to 87 years old, police said.
- Two police officers were in critical but stable condition, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a 3pm briefing.
- Chabad identified two of those killed as Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman and Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a British-born assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organizer of the event.
Of note: Australia has the highest number of Holocaust survivors per capita outside Israel, according to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Zoom out: Video footage showed two gunmen in black shirts firing from a bridge.
- Authorities said they discovered two improvised explosive devices at the scene.
- The father had six firearms licensed to him, all of which have been recovered by police, Lanyon said.
What they're saying: Albanese called it a "targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy."
- He added at the 3pm briefing: "The Jewish community are hurting today. Today, all Australians wrap our arms around them and say, 'We stand with you. We will do whatever is necessary to stamp out antisemitism.' It is a scourge, and we will eradicate it together."
- President Trump in a White House speech called the attack "purely antisemitic."
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack, saying on X that "antisemitism has no place in this world."
Between the lines: Mass shootings have been rare in Australia since semiautomatic weapons were banned in response to the Port Arthur massacre.
What's next: Per Albanese's post-national Cabinet meeting statement, police ministers and state attorneys general will weigh proposals including:
- Accelerating work on a national firearms register.
- Limiting the number of firearms an individual can hold.
- Limiting open-ended firearms licensing and the types of guns that are legal, including modifications.
- Ensuring only Australian citizens can hold firearms licenses.
Go deeper: N.Y., L.A. police bolster security during Hanukkah after Sydney attack
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.
Rebecca Falconer contributed reporting.
