SYDNEY (FN) Gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach late Saturday, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 40 in what authorities are calling Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades.
Police said the attackers deliberately targeted members of the Jewish community gathered for the festival of lights. Witnesses reported that the gunmen spared non-Jewish beachgoers, focusing their fire on families attending the religious event. Victims included children as young as 10 and elderly worshippers.
Authorities identified the suspects as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed Akram, 24. Sajid was killed during a confrontation with police, while Naveed was captured alive and is expected to face terrorism-related charges.
The attack began shortly before 8 p.m. when the two men arrived carrying bags. Within minutes, gunfire erupted, sending hundreds fleeing in panic. Emergency calls flooded police dispatchers, and armed officers arrived on the scene within 20 minutes.
Amid the chaos, a bystander, Ahmed Al Ahmed, tackled one of the gunmen, an act police said prevented further casualties. His intervention is being hailed as heroic across Australia.
Hospitals across Sydney were overwhelmed as victims poured in. By late evening, officials confirmed 16 dead and dozens injured, many in critical condition.
New South Wales authorities quickly declared the incident a terrorist attack, citing evidence of antisemitic targeting. “This was a deliberate assault on the Jewish community,” Police Commissioner Karen Webb said. “It was an act of hate.”
The massacre has shaken Australia’s Jewish community, which has faced rising antisemitism amid global tensions. Leaders described the attack as part of a “tsunami of anti-Jewish hate” spreading worldwide. International Jewish organizations condemned the assault and urged governments to strengthen protections against antisemitism.
Prime Ministerial statements and political leaders across the spectrum condemned the attack, pledging stronger measures against extremism. The tragedy has reignited debate over Australia’s security preparedness, particularly how firearms were obtained despite strict gun control laws.
As dawn broke over Bondi Beach, mourners gathered for a vigil, lighting candles in memory of the victims. Flags across the nation were lowered to half-staff. For the Jewish community, the festival of light has been transformed into a moment of profound darkness.
