New Delhi: At least 12 people were killed and another 29 injured in a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach Sunday evening, with two people taken into custody, New South Wales (NSW) Police said.
Police said emergency services were called to Campbell Parade at around 6.45 pm local time (1.15 pm IST) following reports of shots being fired at Bondi Beach, where a Hanukkah event was underway. Police said it was not yet confirmed whether the incident was connected to the event. Sunday marked the first day of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.
Multiple reports said police also found and removed an improvised explosive device (IED) from one of the alleged shooter’s vehicles. Broadcasters reported that Israel’s foreign ministry had confirmed one Israeli citizen was among those killed.
In a press conference, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the attack was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community” and confirmed it has been declared a “terrorist incident”.
Ten people have died, including a man suspected to be one of the shooters, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. According to it, the second alleged shooter is in critical condition.
Eleven people are reported to have been injured, including two police officers.
UPDATE: A police operation is ongoing after a public place shooting by two men at Bondi Beach earlier today.
Ten people have been confirmed dead, including a man believed to be one of the shooters. The second alleged shooter is in a critical condition.
At this time, a further… https://t.co/lekTjxqf85
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) December 14, 2025
Authorities have said there is no longer an active threat, but a large exclusion zone remains in place and the public has been urged to avoid the area. A number of suspicious items found nearby are being examined by specialist officers, and an extensive crime scene has been established as inquiries continue. A multi-agency response is ongoing.
Police said there have been no reports of any other incidents elsewhere in Sydney connected to the shooting. They have appealed for anyone with relevant mobile phone or dashcam footage of the incident to Crime Stoppers Australia, an information receiving service for unsolved crimes and suspicious activity.
Earlier, NSW Police said they had “neutralised” the situation. Several broadcasters, including ABC News, reported that two shooters were involved.
Unverified visuals circulating on social media and reported by ABC News show two men firing from an elevated position overlooking the beach, while another clip appears to show a bystander tackling an alleged shooter. Police have not authenticated the footage.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the scenes at Bondi as “shocking and distressing” in a statement on social media, and said he had spoken with the Australian Federal Police commissioner and the New South Wales premier. He said he convened a national security meeting and described the shooting as a “devastating terrorist incident”.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 14, 2025
Bondi is one of Australia’s most iconic beaches and attracts large crowds of surfers and swimmers year-round.
Meanwhile, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said in a post on X that his “heart goes out” to the Jewish community in Sydney after what he described as a “vile terrorist” attack during the lighting of the first candle of Chanukah. He conveyed Israel’s condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the wounded, and urged the Australian government to act against what he called “a growing wave of antisemitism” in the country.
Our hearts go out to our Jewish sisters and brothers in Sydney who have been attacked by vile terrorists as they went to light the first candle of Chanukah.
I just spoke to David Ossip, the President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, who was speaking at the event as the… pic.twitter.com/9SivHY0Hep
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) December 14, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacted to the incident and said the United States “strongly condemns” the attack. “Antisemitism has no place in this world. Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia,” Rubio wrote on X.
In light of yesterday’s horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump Administration we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 2, 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the shooting as “ghastly” and offered “sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones”. He reiterated that “India has zero tolerance towards terrorism” and said India stood in solidarity with Australia at this difficult time.
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Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2025
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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