At least 15 people were killed and more than 40 were injured following a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Australia’s most famous beach. The attack occurred on Sunday afternoon during a Jewish community event commemorating the start of Hanukkah, which was attended by over a thousand people, according to local authorities.
New South Wales police confirmed that the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism and that it is the most severe armed attack to occur in the country in decades.
Who were the attackers?
According to initial official reports, the assailants were a father and son. The older man, approximately 50 years old, died shortly after the shooting, while his 24-year-old son was detained by police and remains hospitalized in serious condition.
Authorities are investigating whether more people were involved in planning or executing the attack.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon reported that the deceased attacker held a license for firearms and had at least six weapons registered in his name, which were allegedly used during the attack.
What happened at Bondi Beach Shooting?
The first emergency calls were received around 6:47 PM local time at Archer Park, a green area located next to Bondi Beach.
Witnesses reported that the attackers fired from a nearby pedestrian bridge into the crowd gathered within an area enclosed by metal fences.
The attack lasted approximately 10 minutes, during which hundreds of people fled toward the beach, nearby parks, and streets. Videos shared on social media and verified by international media show scenes of panic, people running, and continuous gunfire in the area.
READ MORE: Global Alert Over influenza H3N2
Victims and injured
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns reported that the deceased victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old. At least 42 people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds and injuries of varying severity.
«What was meant to be a night of peace and joy was shattered by a horrible and perverse attack.»
Discovery of explosives and security reinforcement at Bondi Beach Shooting
During the search of the deceased attacker’s vehicle, police found improvised explosive devices, which were defused by specialized teams.
Following the attack, authorities established a large exclusion zone at Bondi Beach and reinforced police presence in Jewish communities and institutions in Sydney and other cities across the country.
Reactions in Australia and the world
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism and antisemitism. He assured that his government would allocate all necessary resources to clarify the facts and punish those responsible.
Leaders of the Jewish community in Australia, as well as authorities from Israel and the United States, demanded urgent measures to curb antisemitism.
Australia is home to nearly 150,000 people who identify as Jewish, and about a third live in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, including the Bondi area. The attack has reignited debate about security at community events and the rise of hate speech globally.
READ MORE: Bulgarian Prime Minister Resigns Following Massive Protests
What is antisemitism?
According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), antisemitism is essentially hatred of Jews.
Expressions of antisemitism, whether in actions or speech, are directed at Jewish or non-Jewish individuals, as well as their property, and also target the institutions of Jewish communities and their places of worship.
Frequently, antisemitism portrays Jewish people as responsible for alleged conspiracies against humanity, and this prejudice is invoked to blame them for «things going wrong.»
Historical figures who have supported antisemitism
Throughout history, various political, ideological, and cultural figures have held or promoted antisemitic views. Some of the most frequently cited figures in historical studies for their association with antisemitism are:
Adolf Hitler (1889–1945)
Leader of the Nazi Party and dictator of Nazi Germany. Antisemitism was a central tenet of his political ideology. Under his regime, discriminatory laws against Jews were implemented, and the Holocaust was perpetrated, in which six million Jews were murdered during World War II.
Joseph Goebbels (1897–1945)
Minister of Propaganda for the Third Reich. He was one of the principal disseminators of Nazi antisemitism, using media, film, and the press to dehumanize the Jewish population and justify their persecution.
Henry Ford (1863–1947)
American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. In the 1920s, he financed and disseminated antisemitic publications, including The International Jew, a series of texts promoting conspiracy theories against Jews.
Benito Mussolini (1883–1945)
Fascist dictator of Italy. Although he did not initially openly promote antisemitism, his regime adopted racial laws in 1938, aligning itself with Nazi Germany.
Louis-Ferdinand Céline (1894–1961)
French writer renowned for his literary work, but also the author of openly antisemitic pamphlets in the years leading up to World War II.
