10 Murdered, Including Shliach, At Mass Shooting At Sydney Chanuka Event
At least 10 people were murdered and dozens wounded in a mass shooting incident at an outdoor Chanukah celebration in the Bondi Beach neighborhood of Sydney on Sunday.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveAt least 10 people were murdered and dozens wounded in a mass shooting incident at an outdoor Chanukah celebration in the Bondi Beach neighborhood of Sydney on Sunday.
One of the victims was Chabad Shliach Rabbi Eli Schlanger, HYD.
According to reports from the scene, two terrorists opened fire from a bridge at a celebration organized by Chabad, where hundreds of people (some reports say thousands) were gathered, including many families with small children, at about 7 p.m. Australian time.
Those present began fleeing the scene in a panic, and many tried to hide. Witnesses said that it took a long time for police to arrive and neutralize the terrorists.
The ZAKA organization stated, “This is a terror event against the Jewish community, with approximately 10 fatalities and 60 injured. The terrorists have been neutralized.”
In videos of the scene, hundreds of people are seen fleeing, while rescue forces and volunteers carry out resuscitation attempts on dozens of victims.
New South Wales police said that the two suspects have been taken into custody.
The horrifying incident took place only about a half hour before Jews in Australia lit the first Chanukah licht.
Chaim, a resident of Sydney who was at the scene with his children during the shooting and managed to escape, told Ynet, “It was an event organized by Chabad on the beach, and 400 people came to light the first candle, as we do every year. Suddenly we heard explosions, and we didn’t know what it was. I grabbed my son, and we hid behind a car until the shooting stopped, and then we ran to our car. My wife and daughter ran to another place, without shoes; we just fled. We left strollers and bags there. We’re in shock.”
He added that the level of security at the scene was very low: “There were only a few policemen, not like after October 7, and it took a long time for police reinforcements to arrive, something like fifteen minutes.”
Another Jew living in Sydney who participated in the event said, “There was a shooting and we just lay down on the grass. There is crazy chaos here; it is a disaster for our community. We knew this could happen.”
It was also reported on Ynet that one witness said the level of security at the scene was extremely low. “There were only a handful of police officers — nothing like the security presence after October 7 — and it took a very long time for police reinforcements to arrive, about 15 minutes. When I left, I didn’t yet realize it was a shooting; we simply heard explosions coming from all directions.”
Shai, an Israeli who lives in Bondi Beach, told Ynet, “This was predictable. The level of everyday hatred toward Jews here is not normal.” Another member of the city’s Jewish community, who asked to remain anonymous, added, “I don’t want to be the one to say this, but we all said it was only a matter of time. Certain politicians told us we were being hysterical and exaggerating.”
Warning: violent and graphic images
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