Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Jewish Hanukkah Gathering Targeted in Deadly Sydney Shooting

Bondi Beach is usually a place of noise, laughter, and movement, but on Sunday night it became a scene of horror. Families from Sydney’s Jewish community had gathered near the shoreline to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, lighting candles, talking, and letting children play as the evening settled in. Then, without warning, gunshots rang out. What followed was confusion and terror as people ran in every direction, some hiding, others trying to help those who had fallen.

Police and paramedics arrived quickly, but the damage had already been done. At least 15 people were killed and more than 40 injured in what authorities say was a deliberate and targeted attack. Witnesses spoke of parents screaming their children’s names, of strangers using their clothes to stop bleeding, of people frozen in shock on the sand. Among those killed was a well-known rabbi involved in organising the event, someone many described as a calm and welcoming presence in the community.

Investigators say the attackers were a father and son. One was shot dead by police at the scene, while the other was taken into custody after being seriously injured. The motive is still being examined, but officials have made it clear that antisemitism is central to the investigation. In response, security has been tightened around Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres across the country, as families grapple with fear that this violence could happen again.

By Monday morning, flowers and candles had appeared near Bondi, placed quietly by people who did not know the victims but felt the weight of the loss. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as an act of hatred and urged Australians not to let fear divide them. Yet for many, especially within the Jewish community, the sense of safety has been shaken. A public beach, a religious celebration, an ordinary evening, all turned into a reminder of how fragile peace can be, and how deeply one act of violence can scar an entire nation.