Sydney Reels After Bondi Beach Shooting Leaves 15 Dead; Gunmen Were Father and Son.
A quiet Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach turned into a scene of tragedy Saturday evening, as a shooting attack claimed the lives of fifteen people and left many more injured. In a Sunday press conference, police revealed the two gunmen were a father and son from the local area.
The attack unfolded around 6:45 PM near the Bondi Pavilion, where approximately 200 people had gathered for a community event. Witnesses describe two men stepping out of a vehicle and opening fire on the crowd. Panic ensued as beachgoers fled in every direction.
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The older gunman, a 50-year-old man who held a firearm license for about a decade, was shot and killed by police officers who responded to the scene. His 24-year-old son was critically injured and remains in hospital under police guard. Authorities have stated they are not looking for any other suspects.
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Among the victims are a 10-year-old girl, a London-born rabbi, and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, Alex Kleytman, who was reportedly shot while trying to shield his wife. The ages of those killed range from 10 to 87. At least 40 people were wounded; five are currently in critical condition.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that six firearms, all registered to the older shooter, were recovered. Investigators also found and safely removed two “rudimentary” explosive devices from the area.
While the investigation into a motive is ongoing, the targeting of a Jewish event has led leaders to condemn the act as antisemitic terrorism. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the nation, calling the shooting “an act of pure evil” that “deliberately targeted” the Jewish community.
In the chaos, moments of extraordinary bravery emerged. Mobile phone footage shows a bystander, since identified as a local shopkeeper, tackling one of the assailants and wrestling a rifle away from him. This act is widely believed to have prevented further casualties.
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World leaders, including Britain’s King Charles and U.S. President Donald Trump, have expressed their condolences. President Trump specifically praised the civilian who confronted the gunman, calling him a “very, very brave person who saved a lot of lives.”
The Bondi Beach area, typically vibrant with tourists and locals, is now a place of mourning. Makeshift memorials with flowers and candles have appeared as the city grapples with one of the deadliest attacks in its recent history.
Police have urged anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward as they continue to piece together the events that led to the violence. Support services are being made available to victims, their families, and a community in shock.
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