At Least 11 Killed In Antisemitic Attack On Hanukkah Celebration At Sydney’s Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach saw a horrific attack on Sunday when two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, leaving at least 11 people dead. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the assault as an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation.
The shooting occurred at the Chanukah by the Sea event, one of the many gatherings held to mark the start of the eight-day Jewish festival, at one of Sydney’s most iconic beaches. While Australia has experienced a rise in antisemitic incidents over the past year, authorities have not linked them to Sunday’s attack.
Police said one gunman was fatally shot at the scene, while the second was arrested and is in critical condition. One of the suspects was reportedly known to security services, though there had been no specific threat. At least 29 others were injured, including two police officers, according to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
Investigators are also examining several suspicious items, including improvised explosive devices found in one of the suspects’ vehicles. “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.
The violence erupted late in the afternoon as thousands of beachgoers enjoyed the summer day. Eyewitnesses described chaos as people ran from the water while gunfire rang out. Footage showed two men in black firing rifles from a footbridge above the event, while a separate dramatic clip captured a bystander tackling and disarming one of the gunmen before setting the weapon on the ground. Minns called the man a “genuine hero.”
Among the dead was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event, according to the Orthodox Jewish movement. Israel’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that one of the victims was an Israeli citizen.
The attack, the deadliest in Australia in nearly 30 years, has left the nation grappling with grief while authorities continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
