At least 12 people (including one gunman) were killed in a targeted terrorist attack against the Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening.
The shooting occurred around 6:45 p.m. local time in Archer Park near the Bondi Pavilion, where over 1,000 people had gathered for an event known as “Chanukah by the Sea 2025.”
The event was to celebrate the first night of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, but two armed men broke the peaceful celebration when they began to open fire from a bridge.
One gunman has reportedly been killed, while another has been taken into custody in critical condition, officials said. Another 29 individuals are known to have been wounded in the attack at this time.
Videos of the attack have surfaced on social media.
(WARNING – Video contains violence)
SHOCKING FOOTAGE: 11 MINUTE VIDEO OF THE HANUKAH TERROR ATTACK IN SYDNEY AUSTRALIA pic.twitter.com/nWmZqoQN5b
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 14, 2025
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NSW Premier Chris Minns called it a “cowardly” targeted assault on the Jewish community.
“This cowardly act of terrified violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” Minns said.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah,” he added. “What should’ve been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”
BREAKING: New South Wales premier Chris Minns says an attack at Bondi Beach was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah”.
Police in Sydney say nine people have been killed in the shooting.
🔗 https://t.co/nnEPjDe8j8
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/uFFtNrpOMp
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 14, 2025
Investigations are ongoing into possible additional suspects (The Guardian reported on a potential third gunman) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found nearby. ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) is reporting that IEDs had been removed from one of the gunman’s vehicles.
An official tells ABC that one of the terrorists had been identified as Naveed Akram, noting that his home was in the process of being raided.
One of the suspected gunmen of the Bondi Beach massacre shooting in Australia has been identified as Naveed Akram. He was injured. At least 11 people were killed. The shooting happened as a family “Chanukah by the Sea” event was taking place. pic.twitter.com/swhboMX805
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 14, 2025
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar released a statement calling the attack predictable and saying warnings about anti-Semitism in Australia have been ongoing since the October 7th massacre.
“Unfortunately, the deadly terror attack in Sydney was expected,” he said in a video in Hebrew, according to ABC. “We warned the Australian government countless times during this period. Unfortunately, it did not do enough.”
The targeted attack is a shock to authorities, as Australia has implemented some of the world’s strictest gun laws in response to the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, where a lone gunman killed 35 people. In fact, American politicians often cite Australia as a model for gun control.
As this is a developing story, RedState will keep readers updated as events warrant.
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