At least 12 killed, nearly 30 injured in Bondi Beach terror attack

Reuters- At least 12 people were killed and nearly 30 others injured when gunmen opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, in what Australian authorities described as a terrorist attack.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said one suspected attacker was shot dead at the scene, while another was critically wounded. At least 29 people, including two police officers, were taken to hospital. Police are investigating whether a third gunman was involved, and bomb-disposal units were deployed to examine suspected improvised explosive devices found nearby.

Australia’s intelligence chief Mike Burgess said one of the attackers was known to authorities but had not been assessed as an immediate threat.The attack occurred during a Hanukkah gathering attended by around 1,000 people on one of the country’s most popular beaches. Witnesses said the shooting lasted about 10 minutes, triggering panic as people fled across the sand and into nearby streets and parks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of the national security council and condemned the attack, calling it a “targeted assault on Jewish Australians” on a day meant for celebration. “The evil unleashed here is beyond comprehension,” he said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog denounced the attackers as “vile terrorists,” while Israel’s foreign minister urged Australian authorities to take stronger action against rising antisemitism.

Jewish community leaders described the incident as unimaginable, confirming that members of their community were among the wounded. Muslim organisations across Australia also condemned the violence, saying such acts have no place in society and expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.

Videos circulating on social media showed people running for cover as gunshots rang out. One clip appeared to show a bystander tackling and disarming a gunman, while others showed police restraining suspects and attempting to resuscitate one man.Mass shootings are rare in Australia, which has strict gun laws. Officials said this was the country’s deadliest shooting since 1996, when 35 people were killed in Port Arthur, Tasmania. As investigations continue, security has been heightened nationwide amid concerns over a recent rise in antisemitic incidents.