Australian PM announces intelligence review as country mourns Bondi attack

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review of national police and intelligence agencies following last weekend’s attack on Bondi Beach.

“Last Sunday’s ISIS-inspired atrocity reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation,” Albanese said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. “Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.”

A national day of reflection was held on Sunday to mourn the 15 people who died after two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish festival on Sydney beach.

Amid tight security measures, a minute of silence will be observed at 18:47 local time (07:47 GMT), marking exactly one week since the shooting began.

Police allege that the December 14 attack, which they have declared a terrorist incident, was committed by a father and son duo, inspired by the “ideology of the Islamic State.”

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. His father Sajid died during the attack.

Albanese said the intelligence review, due in April 2026, would focus on ensuring authorities were equipped to tackle extremism.

He said: “The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will examine whether federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies have the appropriate powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements to keep Australians safe following the horrific anti-Semitic Bondi Beach terrorist attack.”

In the wake of Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, the government has announced plans to tighten gun controls, while New South Wales is pushing to crack down on hate speech.

As part of a national day of reflection, Bondi was to host a tribute later on Sunday, exactly a week after the tragedy.

Earlier in the day, Governor-General Samantha Mostyn addressed a vigil held in Bondi, organized by the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, where attendees largely wore white to symbolize peace.

“The entire Jewish community, whether here in Bondi or across our nation, you are part of this country’s story of belonging and success,” he said.

Australians across the country are still stunned and there is a sense of shock and disbelief that something like this could have happened.

But this weekend, normalcy returned in some ways. Bondi’s seafront was once again packed with surfers, runners and dog walkers getting back to their usual routine.

As the gloomy mood persists, activities at the children’s surf club, known locally as ‘nippers’, resumed on Sunday in a sign that the community is showing resilience.

North Bondi Surf Life Saving president Steve Larnach told the BBC they had considered canceling regular Nippers events.

“We were also aware of the sensitivity towards our Jewish community,” Larnach said. “We asked them for their opinion, they supported us a lot in the future but also thanked us a lot for what we did.”

Volunteer first responders were among the first to arrive at the scene of the shooting last week providing first aid, Larnach said.

Some surf lifesavers have been hailed as heroes, including one who was photographed running from a neighboring beach with a red first aid kit slung over his shoulder.

Geraldine Nordfelft, who brought her daughter to the children, said “it was really important to get back to this new normal as soon as possible.”

“You have to go back, you can’t walk away, you can’t let fear win. The beach is the Australian way of life and we all love it,” he told the BBC.