Sydney: The death toll from the Bondi Beach shooting has risen to 15, with more than 40 individuals injured. The incident occurred at the popular tourist destination in Sydney, Australia, and has been described by officials as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
According to Thai News Agency, a nearly 10-minute video clip captured two gunmen opening fire on individuals from a small bridge above a parking lot near Bondi Beach. The attack took place during a Hanukkah celebration, the Jewish festival of Lights, held at sunset on the beach. The gunmen targeted the festival attendees, with one shouting at bystanders to leave, suggesting a specific focus on the Jewish community.
The video also showed a man attempting to disarm one of the gunmen. Despite successfully wrestling the weapon away, he spared the gunman’s life, which enabled the attacker to regroup with his accomplice and continue the assault. The 42-year-old intervenor sustained two gunshot wounds but avoided serious injury. He expressed his motivation to protect innocent lives, despite not knowing how to operate a firearm.
New South Wales police have confirmed that the deceased victims range in age from 10 to 87. The two perpetrators, a father and son, were killed on-site. The 50-year-old father, who resided in Sydney and held a gun permit, and his 24-year-old son were critically injured during the altercation. Law enforcement discovered six firearms and a substantial quantity of explosives in a suspect’s vehicle near Bondi Beach. Additionally, a raid was conducted at one suspect’s suburban Sydney home.
In response to the tragedy, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid his respects by laying flowers at the Bondi Pavilion. A survivor recounted the terrifying moments of the attack, describing how she witnessed a gunman retrieve a rifle from a vehicle before opening fire. She urged her friend to drive away to safety amidst the chaos.
Authorities have closed Bondi Beach and its vicinity to collect evidence and declared the shooting a terrorist attack. In light of the incident, security has been heightened in several major cities worldwide, including Berlin, London, and New York City, especially around Hanukkah festival sites.
Australian media highlighted that this incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which prompted stringent gun control laws. These laws have since made Australia one of the nations with the strictest regulations on firearms.