SYDNEY, Australia (December 14, 2025) — A deadly shooting during a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach has left at least 11 people dead, with one suspected gunman also killed, taking the total death toll to 12, authorities and local media reported Sunday. Twenty-nine people were taken to hospital with injuries, including two police officers, as investigators described the attack as a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism.
The violence erupted on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches at the end of a hot summer day, when crowds were gathered for a community event marking the start of the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Officials say the investigation is now being led as a terrorist matter, amid reports of suspected explosive devices linked to the attackers.
What happened at Bondi Beach
Police and witnesses said gunfire broke out near Campbell Parade, close to Bondi Beach, at around 6:45 p.m. local time. Footage described by multiple outlets showed two armed men firing from a footbridge leading toward the beach, as beachgoers ran for cover.
Reuters reported the shooting lasted about 10 minutes and sent hundreds of people scattering across the sand and into nearby streets and parks. Authorities said roughly 1,000 people had attended the Hanukkah event.
Australia’s public broadcaster said reports initially varied about whether the shooting unfolded on the beach itself, a nearby park area, or the bridge — but officials later confirmed the key firing position was above the crowd near the beach precinct.
Confirmed deaths and injuries
Authorities confirmed 12 deaths, including one of the alleged attackers, and said 29 people were being treated in hospital.
Among those injured were two police officers, ABC reported, adding that the officers underwent surgery.
A separate ABC update from St Vincent’s Hospital quoted NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon as saying the police officer who was shot was later in stable condition, with a fuller briefing expected to follow.
Victims include rabbi; Israeli citizen confirmed among the dead
The Associated Press reported that Rabbi Eli Schlanger, identified as an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organizer of the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, was among those killed. AP News+1
ABC also reported Rabbi Schlanger was among the victims, citing confirmation posted by a family member and details published by Chabad about his community role.
ABC further reported that Israel’s foreign ministry said one Israeli citizen was among the dead.
Suspects: one dead, one in custody, possible third person investigated
Officials said one suspected gunman was killed at the scene and a second alleged attacker was taken into custody in critical condition. Police are also investigating whether a third gunman could have been involved.
Australia’s domestic intelligence agency has also been drawn into the response. Reuters reported that ASIO chief Mike Burgess said one of the suspected attackers was known to authorities, but had not been deemed an immediate threat.
Suspected explosive devices found as counter-terrorism leads inquiry
Police said bomb-disposal specialists were dealing with suspected improvised explosive devices connected to the attack. Reuters reported that a bomb-disposal unit was working on several suspected devices.
SBS reported that NSW Police designated the shooting a terrorist incident, citing the timing on the first night of Hanukkah, the weapons used, and the alleged explosive devices located at the scene. SBS also quoted Commissioner Lanyon saying NSW Police counter-terrorism command would lead the investigation alongside State Crime Command investigators.
The bystander who intervened — and why officials say it mattered
As chaos unfolded, a bystander was filmed tackling and disarming one of the attackers — a moment that quickly became a focal point of the national response.
Reuters reported that local media identified the man as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, and said NSW Premier Chris Minns credited the bystander’s bravery with saving lives. Reuters noted it could not independently confirm the bystander’s identity but verified the footage and reported officials praised the intervention.
What leaders are saying in Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a national security meeting and condemned the attack as a targeted assault on Jewish Australians.
Speaking publicly, Albanese called the shooting an act of antisemitic terrorism and said security agencies were working to identify anyone associated with the violence.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incident as deliberately aimed at Sydney’s Jewish community and echoed calls for national unity and support for those affected.
International reaction and security measures abroad
Condemnation also poured in from overseas leaders. AP reported that King Charles III expressed sorrow and shock, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other global figures voiced solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.
Reuters separately reported that King Charles and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened,” praising first responders and civilians, and noting that London police said they would increase security at Jewish sites. Reuters
In another Reuters report, officials in several countries said security would be increased at Hanukkah gatherings and Jewish institutions following the Bondi Beach attack, including additional policing around public menorah events and synagogues.
Netanyahu’s comments add political edge to global response
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killings and publicly accused the Australian government of fueling antisemitism — remarks that injected a geopolitical dimension into a moment of mourning.
Reuters reported Netanyahu referenced Australia’s announced plans earlier this year to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN, claiming such moves embolden antisemitism — an assertion that Australian officials have not accepted in their public statements about the attack.
Authorities urge public to avoid the area and submit evidence
As the investigation intensified, local authorities urged residents and visitors to stay clear of Bondi Beach and surrounding streets during the emergency response.
Waverley Council, which governs the Bondi area, said it was horrified by the reports and urged the public to stay awaywhile emergency services continued their work.
NSW Police also appealed for the public’s help, asking anyone with relevant mobile phone or dashcam footage from the Bondi Beach area to upload it through official channels and reminding the public not to report information through police social media pages.
Broader context: concerns over antisemitism and public safety
Officials and community leaders pointed to a broader rise in antisemitic incidents as a backdrop to Sunday’s attack, without claiming a direct operational link between prior incidents and the Bondi Beach shooting.
Reuters reported the shooting followed a string of antisemitic incidents in Australia since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, and noted that Australia’s Jewish community — concentrated in part in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including Bondi — has been shaken by the scale of the violence.
AP similarly described the attack as occurring after a year of heightened antisemitic tension and incidents, while noting authorities had not suggested those events were connected to Sunday’s shooting.
What happens next
Investigators are expected to release more information as interviews, forensic work, and evidence reviews continue. ABC reported Commissioner Lanyon indicated police would provide a fuller update after the initial emergency phase.
For now, authorities are treating the Bondi Beach attack as an active terrorism investigation, with a large crime scene footprint and heightened security concerns around public gatherings during the Hanukkah period.
This is a developing story based on reporting and official statements from December 14, 2025; casualty figures and investigative details may change as authorities confirm new information.
