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By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
SYDNEY, Australia — A day of festive celebration turned to horror at one of Australia’s most iconic locations on Sunday, as two gunmen opened fire on hundreds of people gathered for a Jewish holiday event at Bondi Beach, killing at least 11 people and injuring 29 others in an attack declared a terrorist act by authorities.
The massacre targeted the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration, marking the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that police fatally shot one gunman at the scene, while the second suspect was arrested and is in critical condition. Two police officers were among the wounded.
Among the victims confirmed dead was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the beachside event. The Chabad movement, known for its outreach to non-religious Jews, confirmed the loss of the London-born father-of-five, describing him as a joyful figure whose life was dedicated to spreading light and happiness.
Premier Chris Minns of New South Wales stated unequivocally that the attack was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” a determination echoed by Commissioner Lanyon, who cited the event targeted and the weapons used in declaring it a terrorist incident. Police are also examining several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in one of the suspects’ cars.
The horrific shooting follows a surge of antisemitic incidents across Australia over the past year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and publicly condemned the violence.
“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith, an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” Mr. Albanese said, adding a solemn promise: “Let me be clear, we will eradicate it.”
While authorities stated one gunman was known to security services, they noted there had been no specific, imminent threat.
The attack unfolded around 6:45 p.m. on Campbell Parade, with witnesses describing a scene of terror. Lachlan Moran, 32, told the Associated Press he heard shots and immediately fled, saying, “Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running, and people were crying, and it was just horrible.” Other witnesses estimated hearing over 50 shots.
Dramatic video footage broadcast on Australian television showed a remarkable act of bravery: an unarmed member of the public appearing to tackle and disarm one of the gunmen before pointing the man’s weapon at him, an act that likely saved countless lives.
The massacre is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur tragedy, which led to the country’s landmark gun control laws. The shooting prompted global condemnation, with leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing condolences. Police in London quickly announced they would step up security at Jewish sites.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a stern statement, saying the nation of Israel’s heart “misses a beat at this very moment,” and urged the Australian government to “seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.”
The Australian Jewish community, which saw a threefold surge in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, now grieves the loss of its members on a day meant for light and celebration.