A Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach ended in tragedy on Sunday after two gunmen dressed in black opened fire on a large crowd. Local media said nearly 1,000 to 2,000 people were attending the event when the shooting began.

At least 12 people were killed. Several others suffered injuries. Witnesses said the attackers fired repeatedly, sending people running across the beachfront or hiding indoors.

More than 50 shots were fired, according to reports, as panic spread through the area.

Police respond, two suspects caught

New South Wales Police confirmed that officers detained two people in connection with the shooting. Police killed one gunman during a gunfight. Officers shot and wounded the second attacker before arresting him.

Authorities sealed off the area and launched a large security operation. In a statement posted on X, NSW Police said “the police operation is ongoing” and added that people should avoid the area. The police also warned that “anyone at the scene should take shelter.”

Leaders express shock and grief

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacted soon after the attack. He said “the scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing” and added that police and emergency teams were “on the ground working to save lives.” He said his thoughts were “with every person affected.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the attack as “vile.” He said “our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach.” Herzog added that “the heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment,” and said Israel was praying for the wounded and those who lost their lives.

Gunman identified, terror angle examined

Australian authorities identified one of the attackers as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who lived in Bonnyrigg in south-west Sydney. Investigators are now examining whether the shooting was an act of terrorism.

Sources told CNN-News18 that “Australian counter-terrorism teams are actively probing possible ideological or extremist motivations behind the attack,” noting that it targeted “a religious and cultural gathering that provided both symbolic value and maximum visibility.”

Security agencies raided Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg to look for signs of online radicalisation. Investigators are checking extremist material, Gaza-linked narratives, and possible digital links.

Security assessments said Bonnyrigg and nearby areas had appeared in earlier counter-terrorism mapping exercises due to past radicalisation cases and concerns about extremist influence.

Dramatic footage surfaces online

Videos shared on social media captured the moment the attack began. One clip showed a gunman firing from a bridge near Bondi Beach as someone shouted, “They are shooting, get down, get down.”

Other videos showed people running in fear while sirens echoed. Emergency workers told AFP they rushed several victims to hospitals across Sydney.

One widely shared video showed an unarmed bystander confronting a gunman. The man first hid behind parked cars and then charged from behind, managing to overpower the attacker.

Why the Hanukkah gathering was targeted

Intelligence officials said the Bondi Beach shooting is under close examination because it targeted a Jewish religious event. Sources said such a gathering offered strong symbolic value and high public visibility.

Investigators believe the attackers may have deliberately chosen a Hanukkah celebration to spread fear or gain ideological attention. The presence of two attackers, their coordinated clothing, and sustained gunfire suggested advance planning.

Officials said the attack matched patterns seen in earlier ideologically motivated or lone-wolf extremist assaults. Authorities are still analysing digital footprints, overseas links, and radicalisation indicators.

Warnings about antisemitism resurface

Jewish groups said antisemitic incidents have increased in Australia. The Executive Council of Australia Jewry recorded 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents in the 12 months ending October 1, according to ABC News.

Israeli leaders accused Australian authorities of ignoring repeated warnings. Israel’s Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, wrote that “a government that normalized boycotts against Jews solely because they are Jewish” and failed to act against antisemitism “bears full responsibility for the horrific scenes we witnessed today.”

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel also criticised the response. She called the shooting “an abomination” and asked, “How many times did I warn Australian governments that a mass casualty terror attack is inevitable if the government didn’t do more?”

Australian authorities continue to investigate the shooting as a possible terror attack while keeping security tight across Sydney.