Twelve people have died, including a gunman, after a shooting on Australia’s Bondi Beach targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.
According to police, at least 12 other people were injured and two officers were shot during the event, which has since been declared a terrorist attack by authorities. The surviving gunman is in critical condition.
More than 1,000 people attended an event on the beach to celebrate Hanukkah.
Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, said: “Our hearts bleed tonight for Australia’s Jewish community.
“I can only imagine the pain they feel now as they watch their loved ones killed while celebrating this ancient holiday.”
Mass shootings in Australia are very rare and the attack in Bondi is the deadliest incident in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Here’s what we know so far:
Where is Bondi Beach?
Bondi Beach is located in the east of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, on the east coast of Australia.
It is one of the most popular beaches in Australia and attracts millions of visitors each year. The area is a major attraction for tourists.
What happened?
Police in New South Wales (NSW) responded to reports of gunshots at around 18:47 local time (07:47 GMT), with video showing hundreds of people fleeing the coast.
In its initial statement published on X, New South Wales Police urged people at the scene to take shelter and other members of the public to avoid the area.
Around the same time, local media began reporting on people “on the ground” in the vicinity of Campbell Parade.
A video verified by the BBC appears to show two gunmen shooting from a small bridge crossing from the Campbell Parade car park towards the beach itself.
On Bondi Beach, very close to the bridge from which the men were shooting, an event was taking place to mark the first day of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. More than 1,000 people attended.
Premier Minns also paid tribute to a man filmed struggling with a gun belonging to one of the attackers.
“That man is a genuine hero and I have no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery,” Minns said at a news conference.
In the video, the man is seen sneaking up on the attacker, before grabbing him and giving him a bear hug.
The man, now unarmed, retreats towards the bridge, from where the other attacker continues shooting.
As the video continues, another man appears to be injured and flees the scene, while a police officer arrives behind the attackers and opens fire on them.
A separate video, also verified, shows several police officers on the same bridge. One appears to be administering CPR to a motionless man while someone shouts “he’s dead, he’s dead.”
How many people were killed and injured?
fake imagesAside from police confirming the death of a gunman, details about who was killed and who were wounded are scarce.
Police have confirmed the deaths of twelve people, including one of the gunmen. Another gunman is said to be in critical condition.
Authorities say 29 other people were taken to the hospital and two officers were also shot during the incident.
One witness, Barry, was attending the Hanukkah event in Bondi with his children when he heard gunshots.
He told the BBC he saw two men on a bridge shooting into the crowd.
He said there were bodies on the ground. He and his children were able to escape with a friend in a car, he added.
What’s the latest?
fake imagesPolice have declared Saturday’s shooting a terrorist attack.
“An exclusion zone has been established around the location while police use specialist equipment to check for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in a car linked to the dead gunman, and police are still urging the public to avoid the area.”
“No stone will be left unturned” in the investigation, said New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
He said police would not release any information about the gunmen at this time and urged calm as police carried out their tasks, adding that this was “not a time for retaliation.”
Police said they cannot confirm whether a third gunman was involved or whether anyone else was involved in the attack, but investigations are ongoing.
During a televised address, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the Bondi Beach shooting “an act of evil anti-Semitism and terrorism that has struck at the heart of our nation.”
“Today we have seen Australians run into danger to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,” he added.
