15 Killed In Mass Shooting At Australia's Bondi Beach During Jewish Festival

Witnesses said around 50 shots were fired during the shootingat one of the biggest tourist draws in Australia's largest city.

14 Dec 2025, 09:30 · NDTV

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15 people were killed in attack by a father and son on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach
Around 1,000 people attended the Jewish festival when the attack occurred on its first night
Sajid Akram was killed in a shootout with officers, while his son Naveed Akram is in a critical condition

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Fifteen people were shot dead and over 40 injured after two gunmen opened fire at Sydney's Bondi Beach during a Jewish religious event on Sunday. Witnesses said around 50 shots were fired during the shooting at one of the biggest tourist draws in Australia's largest city.

The shooting took place during an annual event to celebrate Hanukkah, which police said was attended by around 1,000 people.

Police said one of the shooters was a 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, who was shot and killed in a shootout with officers. The other was his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who is in a critical condition in hospital, under police guard.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the scenes in Bondi are "shocking and distressing". "Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected. I have just spoken to the AFP Commissioner and with the NSW Premier. We are working with the NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed. I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police," he said in a statement.

Around 2.17 pm IST (7.47 pm Australian time), New South Wales police said in a post on X that they were responding to a "developing incident" at Bondi Beach. "Anyone at the scene should take shelter," they warned. New South Wales police said in its latest update. "Ten people have been confirmed dead, including a man believed to be one of the shooters. The second alleged shooter is in a critical condition."

Visuals show the two shooters, dressed in black, firing at the crowd.

READ: Video: Australian Shooter Hid Behind A Tree, Unarmed Man Pounced On Him

The shooting took place on the first night of the eight-day Jewish festival Hanukkah.

One of the people who attended the event told The Herald that the shooters targeted children and the elderly indiscriminately. Visuals showed some people performing CPR on others.

Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley said Australians are in deep mourning, "with hateful violence striking at the heart of an iconic Australian community, a place we all know so well and love, Bondi". "The loss of life from this attack is significant and I join with the Prime Minister in urging all Australians to follow official advice from police and relevant authorities. This attack occurred as our Jewish community came together at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration. This was a celebration of peace and hope for the future, severed by hate," she said.

"My heart is with Australia's Jewish community tonight, particularly those in the eastern suburbs of Sydney people I know well. Today we stand together as Australians against hate in this moment of profound tragedy and shock," she said.

The Australian Jewish Association slammed the Albanese administration over the shooting and said Jews in the country are now worried about their future. "What happened tonight is a tragedy but entirely foreseeable. The Albanese government was warned so many times, but failed to take adequate action to protect the Jewish community. Tonight, many Jews are pondering whether they have a future in Australia. Our thoughts are with our community and all the impacted, some of whom we are close to," the association said.

It also hit out at the Prime Minister for his post, which did not mention that it was a Jewish event. "Doesn't even mention that it was a Jewish event. What a shameful disgrace! PM Albanese avoids even mentioning that it was the Jewish community targeted and Jews shot," it said.

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