Judith Bellmunt reports on the attack at Bondi Beach.
Sunday, 14th of December, 15 people were shot dead on the first day of Hanukkah celebration at Bondi beach in Australia. A further 42 people were taken to the hospital for their injuries of which 24 have been hospitalized; three in a critical condition, another five critical but stable. The attack was carried out by Sajid Akram, 50, who was shot dead by the police, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, who’s in custody at the hospital. Police got reports about gunshots at 6.47, with the attack lasting over 10 minutes. The event had around 1,000 people in attendance. It has been said to be the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre in the island state of Tasmania, where a gunman killed 35 people.
Ten minutes after the police were called, at 6:57 p.m. local they stated on social media that they were responding to a “developing incident” and told the public to avoid the area. Footage shows Sajid and Naveed shooting from the bridge next to Campbell Parade. One of them walked down closer to the grassy area where the celebrations were taking place. This is when a 43-year-old muslim bystander Ahmed al Ahmed, successfully wrestled the gun off him, getting shot multiple times but surviving. The gunshooter retreated back towards the bridge grabbing another gun, and joining the other. Sajid was shot dead by the police, while Naveed continued shooting. At 7:37 p.m. local time, police announced on social media that two people were in custody at the beach.
Victims include the a 10-year old girl called Matilda, two Rabbi’s, Eli Schlanger and Yaakov Levitan, an 87-year old holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman, former police officer Peter Meagher, and Edith Brutman, the vice-president of the New South Wales branch of international Jewish group B'nai B'rith. They also include Boris and Sofia Gurman, a Jewish couple that were not at the event, but realizing what was about to happen, disarmed one of the gunshooters when he got out of the car. They were shot after he grabbed a second gun from the vehicle.
NSW claimed that “this incident was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, which should have been a night of peace and joy”. They said that “incidents targeting our Jewish communities have no place in our society” and that “hate and violence will not be tolerated. Threats against any part of our society are a challenge for us all (...) Every person deserves to feel safe in NSW.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM declared the incident terror related, and referred the investigation to the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCCT). The NSW JCTT declared the attack a terrorist attack, and charged Naveed with 59 offences including; committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing wounding/grievous bodily harm to persons with intent to murder, discharging firearm etc intending to cause grievous bodily harm, public display of prohibited terrorist organisation symbol, placing explosive in/near building with intent cause harm.
Australian police say "homemade" Islamic State group flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in the gunmen’s car. Naveed had already come to the attention of Australia's domestic intelligence agency six years ago for his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack appeared to have been “motivated by Islamic State ideology”. He denounced the shooting targeting the Jewish community as an “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism.”
As of Monday the 15th of December, NSW police stated they “commenced Operation Shelter”, designed to provide comfort to the Jewish community. It will involve having 328 officers “highly visible at places of worship, places that are known to be frequented by the Jewish community” and “very much in those suburbs where we know that we have a large Jewish population”. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to strengthen gun laws. This Friday 19, the NSW government has discussed passing laws including capping and restricting the number and types of firearms, strengthening firearms licence checks and accountability as well as their oversight, storage and compliance. In addition there are plans to introduce a buyback scheme to encourage gun owners to hand in guns that will now stop being legal, to be destroyed.
On Thursday 18, Albanese acknowledged the country had experienced a rising tide of anti-Jewish hate since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, and Israel’s genocide on Gaza, and said the attack was the culmination of such rising anti-Semitism in Australia.
To combat anti-semitism, Australia is introducing a number of reforms, including tougher hate speech laws, new powers to cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division in this country, or for those who would do so if they were allowed to come, ensuring the Australian education system prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism, online safety advice to address antisemitism, and increased funding to provide overall security cover to the Jewish community, including at places of worship.
The Federal and NSW Governments have declared Sunday 21 December 2025 a Day of Reflection to honour the victims and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. The Day of Reflection marks a day since the attack and also aligns with the last full day of Hanukkah (Chanukah), a time of a time traditionally associated with light, faith and resilience. Flags on Australian and NSW Government buildings have been flown at half-mast. The NSW government has also invited people across the country to light a candle at 6:47pm, the same time there has been a national minute's silence for remembrance.
Earlier on Friday 19th, hundreds of people also plunged into the ocean off Bondi Beach as a gesture to honour the victims. Furthermore, more than 20,000 people across Australia made an appointment to donate blood after the attack, knowing it was needed to help the victims at the hospital.
Ahmed al Ahmed has received a gift of 2.5 million Australian dollars (US$1.65 million) for his actions. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who visited him in the hospital, said that "Ahmed is a real-life hero”, and that "his incredible bravery undoubtedly saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist despite enormous personal risk”.
The NSW claims “all Australians share in this grief”. Moreover, vigils have been held across Sydney and Melbourne, some bringing together people of different religions as well as atheists. Ann Porcino, who grew up Catholic in the United States with Jewish heritage, said the combination of the multi-faith blessings was “us reaching for each other”. A video has also gone viral of a muslim man named Farook and Rabbi Leivy embracing after the former gave him his condolences. "We are in this together,” said Farook.
A day after the attack, Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins said in the city’s Hyde Park. “So many in our Jewish community have received messages of love from leaders in different faith communities, from Palestinian friends and friends around this country, and in so doing, we are now learning we are all just flesh and blood, and we are all also the light,” he said.