Bondi Beach Terror Attack: 12 Killed at Hanukkah Celebration in Deadliest Australian Mass Shooting Since 1996

Bondi Beach Terror Attack: 12 Killed at Hanukkah Celebration in Deadliest Australian Mass Shooting Since 1996

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Bondi Beach terror attack kills 12 people at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, marking Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996. Authorities confirm terrorism.

Bondi Beach Terror Attack Leaves 12 Dead During Hanukkah Event, Australia Shaken by Rare Mass Shooting

TheInterviewTimes.com | December 14, 2025, 19:43 IST: At least 12 people were killed and 29 injured when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, an incident Australian authorities have formally declared a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community. The Bondi Beach terror attack, which unfolded during the popular “Chanukah by the Sea” event attended by more than 1,000 people, is being described as the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

The attack occurred on Sunday evening shortly before 6:50 pm local time, when families, children, and community leaders had gathered near Bondi Pavilion and Archer Park for a public menorah lighting and cultural activities marking the first night of Hanukkah. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as sustained gunfire erupted, forcing crowds to flee across the beachfront promenade.

Terror Unfolds at Sydney’s Iconic Bondi Beach

According to New South Wales Police, the attackers arrived near the event area and opened fire indiscriminately on attendees. Videos circulating on social media, now secured by investigators, show people abandoning shoes, prams, and bags while running for safety.

Police confirmed that one gunman was shot dead at the scene after confronting officers, while the second suspect was critically wounded and taken into custody, where he remains under armed guard in hospital. During subsequent searches, authorities discovered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside a vehicle linked to the suspects, triggering bomb squad operations and extended security cordons across Bondi.

Officials said there is no immediate ongoing threat, but the crime scene remains active as forensic teams continue their work.

Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Victims, Casualties, and Emergency Response

Emergency services confirmed that 12 people, including one attacker, lost their lives in the Bondi Beach terror attack, while at least 29 others were transported to hospitals across Sydney with gunshot wounds and trauma-related injuries.

Among the injured are two police officers and at least one child, with several victims reported to be in critical condition following emergency surgeries overnight. Ambulance NSW deployed more than two dozen units, establishing on-site triage zones as paramedics treated victims on lawns and walkways before hospital transfers.

Jewish community representatives stated that several victims were volunteers and organisers of the Hanukkah event, and confirmed that a prominent local rabbi was among those killed (name withheld pending family notifications).

Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Authorities Officially Declare Terrorism

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigators had classified the incident as a terrorist act, citing the deliberate targeting of a Jewish religious gathering, the use of high-powered firearms, and the discovery of explosive materials.

“This attack was clearly designed to terrorise Sydney’s Jewish community,” Minns said. “An attack on one faith group is an attack on all Australians.”

Counterterrorism units are examining the suspects’ backgrounds, including possible extremist affiliations, overseas influences, and prior contact with law enforcement. Multiple properties linked to the alleged attackers across Sydney suburbs have been searched, and electronic devices seized for forensic analysis.

Bondi Beach Terror Attack: National and Global Condemnation

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee, condemning the shooting as “an attack on Jewish Australians and therefore an attack on every Australian.” He described the violence as “evil antisemitism” and pledged full federal support for victims, families, and the New South Wales government.

International leaders, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, expressed shock and solidarity, calling the Bondi Beach terror attack a vile act of antisemitic violence. Faith leaders across Australia, including the Australian National Imams Council, issued joint statements urging unity, restraint, and stronger protection for religious communities.

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Rising Antisemitism and Gun Violence Fears

The Bondi Beach terror attack comes amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia, particularly since the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Jewish organisations report sharp increases in threats, vandalism, and harassment over the past two years, with public religious events increasingly viewed as high-risk.

Mass shootings remain extremely rare in Australia following sweeping gun law reforms introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which banned most semi-automatic weapons and implemented a nationwide buyback program. Security experts say the Bondi attack will reignite debates over illegal firearms trafficking, lone-wolf radicalisation, and security arrangements for public religious gatherings.

As Australia mourns one of its darkest days in decades, authorities have promised a full national review of counterterrorism and public safety measures to prevent such an attack from ever happening again.