by Janice McAllister
A quiet Sunday evening turned into one of Australia’s darkest days as gunmen opened fire at a Jewish celebration in Bondi, killing 16 people and injuring dozens more. Authorities have confirmed the attack was an act of terrorism
Bondi Beach, a symbol of Australian life and leisure, became the scene of unimaginable horror on Sunday evening after a mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration left at least 16 people dead and dozens injured. Authorities have since declared the event a terrorist attack, motivated by antisemitic hatred.
The violence erupted just before 7pm at Archer Park, a grassy area near the Bondi Pavilion, where a Jewish community gathering was underway. According to police, two gunmen — a father and son, aged 50 and 24 — launched the attack armed with licensed firearms. The elder of the two was shot and killed by police at the scene, while the younger was critically injured and remains under police guard in hospital.
The New South Wales Health Minister, Ryan Park, confirmed the fatalities on Monday morning, revealing that 14 people died at the scene and two more — a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man — later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. The oldest victim was 87 years old. In total, 42 people were taken to hospitals across Sydney, including four children. At least seven are in critical condition, with several more seriously injured, including two police officers.
One of the victims has been identified as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a London-born father of five, according to the Jewish organisation Chabad. The Israeli foreign ministry also confirmed that an Israeli citizen was among the deceased, though did not release a name.
The shooters were reportedly known to intelligence authorities, though not considered an immediate threat. The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, revealed that the older man held a firearms licence and was registered to own six weapons. Two homes — in Bonnyrigg and Campsie — were raided as part of the investigation. Police also discovered two active improvised explosive devices at the site, which were safely removed by bomb disposal experts.
In a press conference late Sunday, police declared the situation under control, stating there were “no more active shooters.” Videos circulating on social media captured chilling scenes: people fleeing in panic, others lying injured on the ground, as sirens wailed in the background.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the nation and beyond. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the violence as “an act of evil antisemitism” and a “dark moment for our nation.” King Charles III also issued a statement, calling it a “dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack” and praising the courage of first responders and civilians who stepped in to help.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the massacre as a “terrible night for Sydney,” warning Australians not to allow terrorism to drive them apart. “Terrorists want Australians divided and at each other’s throats — and we can’t let that happen,” he said.
Jillian Segal, Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, noted that the attack “marks the worst fear of the Australian Jewish community becoming reality.” Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, confirmed that the organisation’s media director was also among the injured.
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, expressed national grief, saying the country was “in deep mourning,” and that the violence had “struck at the heart of an iconic Australian community, a place we all know so well and love.”
As investigations continue and a shocked nation searches for answers, the community at Bondi — and Australia as a whole — begins the difficult task of healing after a night that will be remembered as one of the country’s most harrowing in recent memory.
(Associated Medias) – Tutti i diritti sono riservati
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