At least fifteen people were killed – including a ten-year-old girl – after a terrorist attack on Sydney’s Bondi Beach targeted Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah, in what Australia’s prime minister described as an “act of evil”.
A total of 40 people were hospitalised in the mass shooting after two attackers opened fire on crowds. Police said that the gunmen were father and son.
One of the gunmen, aged 50, died while the second suspected gunman, aged 24, is in a critical condition.
Mal Lanyon, New South Wales police commissioner, told a press conference in Sydney that he had declared the shooting a terrorist incident. Homemade bombs were also discovered in a car near the scene.
Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, said it was “a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith”.
He added: “An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation, an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated by this attack on our way of life.
“There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it.”
One of those killed was London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, his cousin told Jewish News. He was a father-of-five who is reported to have welcomed his youngest child only two months ago. Another victim was an Israeli citizen, the country’s foreign ministry said.
Terrified locals reported hearing “up to 50” gunshots in the Archer Park area at around 1845 local time [GMT 0745], where up to 1,000 people had gathered for an event to celebrate the first day of the Jewish holiday.
The police warned members of the public to take shelter, before later reporting that two suspects had been captured.
Horrifying footage shared on social media appears to show two shooters firing from a bridge at a beach carpark, while members of the public can be heard screaming.
Later clips appeared to show the two suspects pinned to the ground by police, with shotgun cartridges and shell casings littered on the floor.
Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, said beachgoers dropped everything and sprinted towards safety after hearing the pop of gunfire.
“Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible,” he said.
Witness Harry Wilson, 30, told the Sydney Morning Herald he “saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere”.
Relatives paid tribute to Schlanger, who “loved helping people” after he was named as one of the victims. He was an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, and grew up in Temple Fortune, north London.
Schlanger and his wife, Chayala, are said to have celebrated the birth of their youngest child, a boy, two months ago.
His cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, from Brighton, East Sussex, told Jewish News: “How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?
“We can only respond by doing what Eli would have wanted, what he dedicated his life to – doing more mitzvot (good deeds) and to keep spreading positive energy.”
Larisa Kleytman revealed her husband of five decades, Alex, was killed while trying to protect her as the shots rang out.
The couple, who travelled from Matraville to celebrate Hanukkah, were in the crowd when Ms Kleytman heard the “boom boom” of gunfire. They have two children and 11 grandchildren.
“I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me, in the back of the head,” she told the Daily Mail.
Separate footage captured the moment a bystander – named by local media as 43-year-old fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed – wrestled a rifle out of the hands of one of the alleged shooters.
The man leapt out from behind a car and tackled the gunman from behind, eventually pulling the firearm from his hands and turning it on the suspected attacker.
Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, hailed him as a “genuine hero” as he described the footage as “unbelievable”.
“A man walking up to gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people,” he added.
“That man is a genuine hero and I’ve no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
A spokesperson for New South Wales Ambulance said more than 40 crews, including helicopter and road crews, had treated multiple casualties and taken them to hospital.
A total of 40 people are being treated at hospitals in Sydney, with some in a serious condition. The wounded police officers’ condition was described as “serious, verging on critical” and both were in surgery, Mr Lanyon said.
Homemade bombs were also found in a car linked to the deceased gunman. The police chief added: “Shortly after the shooting occurred, police located a vehicle in Campbell Parade at Bondi, which we believe has several improvised explosive devices.
“We have our rescue bomb disposal unit there at the moment working on that.”
Mr Lanyon said that the deceased offender had been known to the authorities, but there had been no “specific threat”.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News : “This is the Jewish community at its best coming together to mark a happy occasion. If we were targeted deliberately in this way, it's something of a scale that none of us could have ever fathomed. It's a horrific thing.” He said his media adviser had been wounded in the attack.
The UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer reacted to the “deeply distressing news” in a post on X, while King Charles, who visited Bondi Beach in 2012, said he and the Queen were “appalled” by the attack.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected so dreadfully, including the police officers who were injured while protecting members of their community,” he added.
“We commend the police, emergency services and members of the public whose heroic actions no doubt prevented even greater horror and tragedy.
“In times of hurt, Australians always rally together in unity and resolve. I know that the spirit of community and love that shines so brightly in Australia – and the light at the heart of the Chanukah festival – will always triumph over the darkness of such evil.”
The Metropolitan Police is increasing its visibility in Jewish communities ahead of any Hanukkah events in the wake of the attack, the mayor of London has said.
In a post on X, Sadiq Khan said: “My thoughts and condolences – along with the rest of London – are with everyone affected by the horrific attack at Bondi Beach, Australia today.”
