New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has confirmed that twelve people have died, including one of the attackers. A second attacker has been arrested and is in critical condition. Twenty-nine people have been injured. Police are investigating the possibility of a third attacker and are calling it a"terrorist attack." Chris Minns says the attack was "intended to target the Jewish community in Sydney." "What should have been a night of peace and joy was destroyed by a horrific, vicious attack," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack"an act of vicious antisemitism, terrorism that has struck at the heart of our nation." He vowed to use "every means necessary" to ensure that Jews in the country can be safe.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog responded to the shooting on Sunday. He condemned"the horrific attack against Jews" and called on the government of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to do more to combat "the massive wave of antisemitism" in Australia. At least one of the dead, as well as one of the wounded, is believed to be an Israeli citizen, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

“To prevent”

Robert Gregory, president of the Australian Jewish Association, responded by calling it"a preventable tragedy." According to Gregory,"the Australian government received numerous warnings but failed to take appropriate action to protect the Jewish community."

The details of the shooting are gradually becoming clearer. According to police, about a thousand people were celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on a grassy area near the beach. The beach is accessible via a walkway. Police were called around 6:45 p.m. local time after several gunshots were reported. Video footage shows people fleeing and wounded people being helped. Police are asking the public to share any images of the incident.

Images are circulating on social media, the origins of which cannot always be verified. However, images that ABC News was able to verify show several victims being treated on the ground in the grassy area at the north end of the popular beach. Several victims are being carried to ambulances.

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Explosives were found in the dead attacker's car and defused by bomb disposal services. Police have not released any information about the attackers. One of them was known to police but was not considered a threat.

Hero

Other verified footage shows one of the two gunmen being overpowered by a man nearby. He sneaks up behind the gunman, wrestles with him, and manages to retrieve his weapon. The man then puts down the weapon and raises his hands, possibly to show police he's not one of the attackers. The gunman retreats behind the bridge wall, while the other assailant continues firing. The overpowered assailant appears to reach for a backup weapon.

Prime Minister Chris Minns described the man as"a true hero" who saved many lives. A family member identified the man to 7News as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a passerby. He was injured during the rescue and is receiving treatment in hospital.