At least 16 people were killed, including one of the attackers, and 40 others were injured in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.
Police said the attack happened during a Hanukkah celebration for the Jewish community. A father and his son carried out the shooting.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the attackers were a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. The father was killed, and the son is in critical but stable condition in hospital. Police said there are no other suspects.
The father legally owned six guns and had a valid gun license. All six firearms were recovered by police. Some were found at the scene, and others were seized during searches at two homes in Campsie and Bonnyrigg. The family lived in Bonnyrigg but was staying in Campsie.
Police said the father had held a gun license for 10 years and met all legal requirements for a hunting license. Authorities said they had very little prior information about either man and no record of past incidents involving them.
During the searches, police also found two homemade explosive devices at one of the homes. Bomb disposal teams safely disabled the devices. Police said the explosives were basic but could have been dangerous.
Victims of the attack ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old.
The shooting happened during an event called “Chanukah By The Sea,” which was planned to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah by lighting a candle on the menorah. The event started at 5 p.m., and the shooting happened around 6:45 p.m.
Police said the attack was aimed at the Jewish community and is being treated as a terrorist act.
At least 40 people, including two police officers, remain in hospital. Authorities said this is the deadliest attack on Jewish people since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Police said they found evidence of several homemade explosive devices inside a vehicle near the attack site.
A rescue bomb disposal team is currently at the location and is handling the situation.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke about the attack during an event in Jerusalem on Sunday that honored immigrants for their achievements.
He said that Jews in Sydney, Australia, were attacked while they were lighting the first candle of Chanukah at Bondi Beach. Herzog described the attack as cruel and carried out by hateful terrorists. He said the people of Israel are deeply saddened and are praying for the injured and for those who lost their lives.
Herzog also urged the Australian government to take strong action against the growing problem of antisemitism in Australia.
Published: 15th December 2025
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