At least 11 people, including children, lost their lives when two armed men opened fire at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday afternoon, sending hundreds of beachgoers fleeing in panic.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers stepped out of a vehicle on Campbell Parade, near Bondi Pavilion, around 6:40 p.m., and began firing multiple rounds.
Some witnesses reported hearing over 30 shots, while videos from the scene showed one of the gunmen, later identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram from Bonnyrigg, Sydney, firing from an elevated bridge.
Akram was shot and taken into custody, where he is being treated by emergency responders.
The second gunman was killed at the scene. Police have reportedly raided Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg as part of ongoing investigations.
Footage from the attack also showed a courageous civilian approaching one of the gunmen and wresting a rifle away, preventing further bloodshed.
The shooting occurred during a Hanukkah festival called Chanukah by the Sea, which was attended by families and children. NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed that the attack claimed 11 lives and stated that it appeared to specifically target the Jewish community.
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Authorities said 29 people were injured, including a child and two police officers in critical condition, and were taken to hospitals across Sydney. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon officially classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the shooting, calling it “a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah – which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil antisemitism, terrorism, that has struck the heart of our nation… An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”
Investigators discovered suspicious items near the bridge, including an improvised explosive device, which was safely removed by a bomb squad. A black-and-white flag was also found abandoned on a vehicle at the scene, though its significance remains unclear. Police are continuing to examine whether a third individual was involved in the attack.