11 dead, scores injured in Sydney terror attack

At least eleven people were killed and 29 others injured when two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish holiday celebration marking Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, in what Australian authorities have described as an antisemitic terrorist attack.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a late-night press conference that one of the two gunmen was killed at the scene, while the other was taken into custody. Police were also investigating the possible involvement of a third offender. Among the injured were two police officers whose condition was described as “serious verging on critical”.
The attack took place during a public event known as “Chanukah by the Sea”, held to mark the beginning of the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic as hundreds of people fled the area. Videos circulating on social media showed two men dressed in black firing long guns, reportedly from a bridge overlooking the beach.
One widely broadcast clip appeared to show a member of the public tackling and disarming one of the attackers before pointing the weapon at him. Police later confirmed that an improvised explosive device (IED) was found in a vehicle linked to the deceased attacker.
Explaining why the incident was classified as a terrorist attack, Lanyon cited multiple factors, including the timing of the assault on the first day of Hanukkah, the nature of the weapons used, the background of the offenders and items recovered from the scene. He said intelligence relating to the deceased shooter had also informed the decision, though details could not be disclosed.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the shooting, calling it a “targeted attack on Jewish Australians” and an “act of evil antisemitism and terrorism”. In a video statement, Albanese said there was “no place for this hate, violence and terrorism” in Australia and vowed to eradicate it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. In a post on X, Modi said India stood in solidarity with the people of Australia and reiterated India’s “zero tolerance towards terrorism”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled earlier warnings he had issued to Canberra over rising antisemitism, linking the attack to broader political developments. He reiterated his criticism of Australia’s stated intention to recognise a Palestinian state, arguing that such moves embolden extremist elements and fuel antisemitic sentiment.
Investigations into the attack were continuing as authorities stepped up security around Jewish sites across Australia.