Police say one alleged gunman was killed and another is in custody as investigators examine possible accomplices and a suspected cache of devices.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Twelve people were killed and at least 29 were wounded Sunday evening when gunmen opened fire near a public Hanukkah celebration by Bondi Beach, triggering a large police operation, beach closures and an overnight investigation across the surrounding streets, authorities said.
The shooting struck a community gathering commonly known as “Chanukah by the Sea,” drawing families to Archer Park just off Campbell Parade at the iconic beach. New South Wales officials declared the incident a terrorist attack and said the motive appears antisemitic. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the assault and convened national security briefings as state and federal agencies increased patrols around synagogues, Jewish schools and other public venues. By late Sunday, police said one suspect was dead, a second remained in custody in critical condition and detectives were checking reports that others may have helped plan or support the attack.
Witnesses described a burst of automatic fire and then scattered volleys as people ran for cover between kiosks and parked cars along the beachfront. Parents grabbed children and sprinted toward shop doorways and side streets; others lay flat behind bollards as officers shouted for people to stay down. The celebration included a menorah lighting and music attended by hundreds of residents and visitors. In the chaos, a bystander tackled one attacker in a nearby car park, wresting away a weapon as police moved in, according to officials briefed on the response. “This was a deliberate strike on Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said late Sunday. “We will support them and we will find every person responsible.”
Authorities said the wounded were taken to multiple hospitals across the city, including Royal Prince Alfred and St Vincent’s. Among the injured were at least two police officers and a child, officials said. The dead included community members and visitors to the beachfront. Police said they were still confirming identities and notifying families. Detectives were reviewing extensive video from phones, shop cameras and traffic systems that captured the first moments of the attack around the park and the footbridge leading toward the beach promenade. Investigators also examined suspected improvised explosive devices located in a vehicle linked to a suspect, which were removed by specialist teams for analysis. “Our first priority was to neutralize the threat and treat the injured,” a New South Wales Police spokesperson said.
Australia has strict firearms laws introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, and mass shootings are rare. The scale of Sunday’s death toll immediately made it one of the country’s deadliest acts of gun violence in decades. Jewish leaders in Sydney have reported a rise in threats and vandalism over the past year, mirroring trends seen in other countries. Bondi, a dense coastal suburb with an active Jewish community and regular public Hanukkah events, was crowded with beachgoers and families as the summer evening began. Within minutes of the first shots, ambulances and tactical units converged on Campbell Parade, police helicopters circled overhead, and officers pushed a cordon deeper into the neighborhood to secure possible escape routes.
Police declared a terrorist incident and activated counterterrorism protocols, allowing officers to set up checkpoints, search vehicles and conduct urgent warrants. The Australian Federal Police and the domestic intelligence service joined the case, focusing on the attackers’ movements, weapons sourcing and communications. Officers issued a public call for video, asking residents, drivers and shop owners to upload footage from the area. Forensic teams began mapping bullet trajectories and collecting shell casings under floodlights while bomb technicians worked through the night. Albanese told reporters the national security committee would meet again Monday to review the early findings and any additional protections for religious sites.
Community representatives said the celebration had run safely for years with council permits and visible volunteer marshals. Organizers said they had prepared standard safety plans, including liaison with local police, but that the scale and speed of the attack overwhelmed the gathering before security staff could move people off the open lawn. Residents recalled prior tensions in the area, including graffiti and online harassment. Police did not immediately confirm whether either suspect had been known to authorities before Sunday, saying only that background checks and digital forensics were underway. Officials emphasized that details about the number of assailants could change as evidence is verified.
As night fell, officers expanded the cordon from Archer Park across several blocks; beach access points were closed and buses were diverted. Families separated in the rush reunited at a nearby community center where counselors and volunteers assisted the displaced. A nurse who asked to be identified only as Leah said she bandaged two adults and a teenager who had taken shelter behind a kiosk. “There were so many people trying to help,” she said. Outside St Vincent’s Hospital, a paramedic described a steady stream of patients with gunshot wounds and injuries sustained while fleeing. Premier Minns and Police Commissioner Karen Webb visited the command post and thanked first responders, calling the bystander who disarmed an attacker “extraordinarily brave.”
Investigators said they will release the names of victims after family notifications and coronial procedures. Authorities plan to review traffic and security camera footage overnight and analyze the suspected devices to determine their design and origin. Detectives will trace the firearms and ammunition, including serial numbers and purchase histories where available. Officials said a full briefing is expected Monday morning local time, followed by updates on patrol posture around religious sites and any charges that may be laid. Courts will determine initial hearing dates once suspects are formally charged and medically cleared to appear.
By late Sunday, the crime scene remained active under bright lights as technicians worked, and the beachfront stayed closed. Several of the wounded were in serious condition. Officials said more information — including final victim counts and suspect identities — would be released after verification. A further police update was scheduled for Monday, with community memorial plans expected once families have been notified.
Author note: Last updated December 14, 2025.