By Comfort Asemota
A father and son opened fire on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injuring 42 others, authorities confirmed on Monday. The attack has been condemned as antisemitic terrorism, marking Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.
The shooting occurred on Sunday evening as crowds gathered to celebrate Hanukkah at the popular tourist destination. Witnesses reported chaos as people fled in panic while the gunmen fired from a raised boardwalk overlooking the beach.
Police said the father, aged 50, was shot dead during the incident, while his 24-year-old son was arrested and remained under hospital guard with serious injuries. Investigators also discovered a homemade bomb in a car near the beach, believed to have been planted by the attackers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores,” while laying flowers at the Bondi Pavilion. Authorities are still investigating the motives, though reports suggest the pair may have links to the Islamic State group.
The festival, which drew over 1,000 attendees, became a scene of panic as the gunmen fired long-barreled weapons for roughly 10 minutes. Rabbi Mendel Kastel confirmed that his brother-in-law was among those killed, emphasizing the tragedy’s impact on the community: “This is not the Australia that we know. This is not the Australia that we want.”
New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that officials are working to fully understand the attackers’ motivations while ensuring public safety in the aftermath.
