The terrorist gunmen who killed 16 people including a 10-year-old girl and a British-born rabbi in the Bondi Beach attack were father and son, police have confirmed.
The attackers, armed with what police described as “long guns”, opened fire on more than 1,000 people attending a Jewish festival in the Archer Park area of the popular beach at 6.47pm local time on Sunday.
The attack has been declared a terrorist incident targeting a celebration in Sydney, Australia, on the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, New South Wales Police confirmed.
A total of 42 people were taken to hospital where the 10-year-old girl was among those who died, the force said.
The older of the gunmen, a 50-year-old man, was shot by police and died at the scene while his son, a 24-year-old man, suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
British-born Eli Schlanger, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, has been named as one of those killed.
Father-of-two Ahmed al Ahmed, from Sydney, was hailed a hero for tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him.
Video shared on social media shows the gunman then backing away.
Mr al Ahmed’s family said the 43-year-old fruit shop owner remains in hospital with bullet wounds to his arm and hand, and called him a “100% hero”, while New South Wales premier Chris Minns praised him as a “genuine hero”.
Malcolm Lanyon, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, said the older of the two gunmen had a licence for six weapons and added that these were guns found to have been used in the attack.
He also said that two “active” explosive devices had been found and were taken away by a bomb disposal unit and “rendered safe”.
He said the IEDs were “fairly basic in terms of construction” and added: “I’m very glad that those devices were not activated.”
Mr Lanyon said that properties in the Campsie and Bonnyrigg areas of the city had been searched.
At a press conference, he said that reports that a black Isis flag was draped over the attacker’s car “would form part of the investigation”.
He added that police were confident that there was not a third person involved in the attack.
He earlier said that one of the offenders had been known to authorities but there had been no “specific threat”.
In a message to the people of Australia, the King said he was “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack”.
Charles, who is head of state in the Commonwealth nation and visited Bondi Beach in 2012, said in a statement: “My wife and I are appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people attending the Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach.
“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.
“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.”
In a personal signed message on social media, the Prince and Princess of Wales said: “Our thoughts are with every Australian today following the terrible attack at Bondi Beach.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and stand with the Jewish community in grief.
“We are also thinking about the bravery of the emergency responders, particularly the two injured officers. W & C.”
Our thoughts are with every Australian today following the terrible attack at Bondi Beach. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and stand with the Jewish community in grief. We are also thinking about the bravery of the…
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 14, 2025
The family of Mr Schlanger described him as a “joyful rabbi”.
The father-of-five grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and had family at Kinloss Synagogue in Finchley, according to Jewish News.
The 41-year-old and his wife, Chayala, celebrated the birth of their youngest child, a boy, two months ago.
His cousin, Brighton-based Rabbi Zalman Lewis, 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?”
Mr Minns told a press conference: “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying, evil attack.”
This cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see, and represents some of our worst fears of terrorism in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/xtrksmk2YA
— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) December 14, 2025
“Our heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community tonight,” he added.
My statement on the Bondi shooting attack. pic.twitter.com/LRAbMpcUEm
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 14, 2025
Witness Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, told the Associated Press: “You heard a few pops, and I freaked out and ran away. I started sprinting. I just had that intuition. I sprinted as quickly as I could.
“Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible.”
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said Sunday had been a “dark day in our nation’s history”.
He told reporters: “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location.”
Chanukah should be a time of celebration and joy.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 14, 2025
The news that the Bondi beach attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event is sickening.
My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
The United Kingdom will always stand with…
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the Metropolitan Police are increasing officers’ visibility in Jewish communities before any Hanukkah events.
In a post on X, Mr 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.”
A statement from the Met said: “While there is no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London, this morning we are stepping up our police presence, carrying out additional community patrols and engaging with the Jewish community to understand what more we can do in the coming hours and days.
“We always encourage the public to be vigilant at events and in public places. If you see anything suspicious, trust your instincts and tell us.”
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day festival usually observed in December.
We are devastated to hear reports of a shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, with multiple fatalities at a Jewish Hanukkah event.
— Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) December 14, 2025
While details emerge, we have been in touch with our Australian partners at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to express our… pic.twitter.com/GX4tyOegyi
The Prime Minister is understood to have been in touch with Mr Albanese and the CST (Community Security Trust), a charity which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: “Chanukah should be a time of celebration and joy.
“The news that the Bondi Beach attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event is sickening.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
“The United Kingdom will always stand with Australia and the Jewish community. We are actively working with the CST on the policing of Chanukah events.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told any British people caught up in the shooting to contact the British consulate for support.
