At least 11 people have died and 29 have been injured following a shooting attack by at least two assailants, one of whom was killed during the police response, the other arrested, which occurred during a celebration of the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah at the northern end of the beach.
Security forces have confirmed to ABC the initial toll in a first estimate of the consequences of the shooting, which was initially reported by the New South Wales State Police as beginning of the incident.
On the other hand, they declared the incident a “terrorist” incident. “As a result of the circumstances of tonight’s incident at 9:36 p.m. tonight, I declared it a terrorist incident,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated at a press conference.
“Police are on the scene and more information will be provided as it becomes available,” authorities said.
Shortly afterwards, the police announced at least two men had been arrested, one of whom was later confirmed to be dead.
The country's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has issued a statement lamenting the"shocking and distressing scenes" coming from Bondi and confirming injuries following the incident.
“Police and emergency services are working on the ground to save lives. My condolences go out to everyone affected. We are working with New South Wales Police and will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” he said.
“We can only tell you that we have treated several people at the scene and, at this time, we have taken eight people to different hospitals in Sydney,” a New South Wales ambulance service spokesman told AFP.
Images broadcast on social media show what appeared to be at least two shooters dressed in black, as well as scenes of panic on the beach, one of the most popular and touristic in the city, with people fleeing the area and several victims lying on the ground while being treated by paramedics.
Witnesses indicated that some people had visible injuries and bloodstains, something that has not been confirmed by the authorities.
“We heard the shots. It was shocking, it seemed like it lasted 10 minutes of just bang, bang, bang. It sounded like a powerful weapon,” Camilo Díaz, a 25-year-old Chilean student, told AFP at the scene.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, one of the suspected shooters was killed by police, while the other was arrested.
A local resident told ABC News that she was having dinner at a nearby restaurant when she heard what she initially thought were fireworks, but it turned into a chaotic situation when she saw people running along the beach.
According to his testimony, the shots appeared to be coming from the vicinity of the Bondi Pavilion, a historic building facing the beach, and would have continued for a long time.
Authorities are keeping the area cordoned off and continuing to investigate what happened, while reiterating their call for the public to stay away from the area until further notice.
World leaders condemned the attack
The beach, they emphasize, was partly the setting for a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins this Sunday. Although Australian authorities have not yet directly linked the incident to the event, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has denounced a “vile terrorist attack against the Jews who were lighting the first Hanukkah candles on Bondi Beach.”
“Our hearts are with them. The heart of the entire nation of Israel beats strongly at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them, and we pray for those who lost their lives,” he said in an official statement.
“We reiterate our warning time and again to the Australian government to take action and fight against the huge wave of antisemitism that is sweeping through Australian society,” he concluded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the Australian government for contributing to the rise in antisemitism ahead of the Sydney shooting.
“Three months ago I wrote to the Australian Prime Minister that his policy was fueling anti-Semitism,” Netanyahu said, referring to a letter sent to Anthony Albanese in August, following Canberra’s announcement on the recognition of the Palestinian state.
“Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders do not speak out or act,” Netanyahu added during a televised speech in southern Israel.
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has also reacted, linking the incident to the celebrations. “I was horrified to see the images emerging of the terrible attack on so many people at Bondi Beach as the Hanukkah celebrations began,” she stated on her Twitter account.
“All my thoughts are with the victims and the wider Jewish community in Australia and beyond,” he added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that he was"speechless" at the shooting.
“This is an attack on our shared values. We must stop antisemitism, both in Germany and around the world,” he said in a post on X.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron expressed that France will continue to fight tirelessly against anti-Semitic hatred and sent his condolences.
“France sends its thoughts to the victims, the injured, and their loved ones,” it stated in English via X. “We share the pain of the Australian people and will continue to fight against antisemitic hatred, which affects us all, wherever it occurs.”
Bondi Beach, in eastern Sydney, is Australia's most famous beach and attracts a large number of surfers, swimmers and tourists, especially on weekends.
