US President Donald Trump condemned in the strongest terms "a purely antisemitic attack" after two gunmen killed 16 people during a Jewish celebration, sending shockwaves through Australia.
Trump echoed global leaders in condemning the attack which took place at the iconic Bondi Beach, leaving dozens injured. Australian authorities are treating the attack as terrorism, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of "evil antisemitism".
Speaking from the White House during a Christmas event, Trump said the attack was "horrible" and "purely antisemitic". The US president added, “today we can say loudly we celebrate Hanukkah."
Trump also referred to a separate shooting at Brown University which killed two and left nine injured. “I pay my respects to the families,” he said.
Earlier on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "antisemitism has no place in this world" and that "the United States strongly condemns it. The Trump administration referred to the shooting as terrorism.
The attack, which killed 15, is the deadliest since 1996 in a country with strict gun control laws. Australian PM Anthony Albanese vowed to "eradicate" hate crimes in the country.
"There is no place for this hate violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me clear: we will eradicate it," he told a news conference after the shooting on Sunday. Of the two gunmen, one was pronounced dead and the second remained in serious condition on Sunday.
The Australian police said on Sunday that the two suspects were a father and son, who are 50 and 24, respectively.
Attack during 'Hanukkah by the sea'
New South Wales police issued a warning at 7 pm local time on Sunday after reports of an active shooting, urging people to take shelter or avoid Bondi Beach.
Eyewitness accounts spoke of panic scenes and chaos as people ran for shelter from gunmen.
Extraordinary footage showed two men carrying assault rifles shooting at people, firing rapid rounds at a crowd in panic.
A man was also filmed wrestling with one of the gunmen as he tried to take the rifle away and stop the shooting. The police saluted his brave act.
He has been identified by Australian media as Ahmed al Ahmed, 43.
A Hanukkah celebration, one of the most important events in the Jewish calendar, was taking place at the beach, where around 1,000 people attended.
