At least 12 individuals killed at Bondi shooting, declared terrorist incident
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The news: The first victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack have been publicly identified in media reports.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organiser of the Chanukah by the Sea event, was confirmed dead by his family, the BBC reported. The Israeli foreign ministry said an Israeli citizen was also killed, and another injured.
One of the alleged shooters has been identified in reports as Naveed Akram, 24, a western Sydney resident. Police have not confirmed if he is the attacker who was shot dead at the scene. Authorities confirmed the deceased suspect was previously known to security services, and that explosive devices were found in a car linked to him.
Two people were arrested at an address in Bonnyrigg following the attack, with police confirming the arrests were related to the incident, the SMH said.
What they said: Security has been ramped up at Jewish venues in cities across the world as communities prepare for public Hanukkah celebrations following the Bondi attack.
The Metropolitan Police in London increased patrols and community engagement, the BBC reported. The New York Police Department said it was deploying additional resources to Hanukkah celebrations and synagogues “out of an abundance of caution”, The New York Times reported.
In Canada, police in Toronto and Montreal confirmed increased visibility and patrols at Jewish community sites during the Hanukkah period, the Times said.
King Charles III condemned the “most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people”, while the Prince and Princess of Wales said they “stand with the Jewish community in grief”.
World leaders condemn Bondi terror attack, Netanyahu links it to Australia’s recognition of Palestine
More news: World leaders, including from Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom and European nations, condemned what they described as an antisemitic terrorist attack after gunmen opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 11 people and injuring 29.
What they said: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the shooting “cold-blooded murder” and accused the Albanese government of pouring fuel “on this antisemitic fire”, linking the attack to Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
“Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism,” Netanyahu said.
“Antisemitism is a cancer that spreads when leaders are silent and do not act.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said antisemitism was “plaguing Australian society”, while Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, said he was “in shock from this mass murder, and from the Australian government’s helplessness in preventing it”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “strongly condemns” the “horrific attack” and that “antisemitism has no place in this world”.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other leaders across Europe expressed shock and solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “horrified” and condemned the “heinous, deadly attack on Jewish families gathered in Sydney to celebrate Hanukkah”.
Other leaders from across Europe, including the prime ministers or presidents of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Ukraine, also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and Australia’s Jewish community.
ASIO says one of the Bondi shooters was known to authorities
More news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the terrorist act, with the national security agency confirming one of the shooters was known to the authorities.
Albanese this evening convened a special meeting of the national scrutiny committee of his cabinet. The committee was briefed by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police.
ASIO director general Mike Burgess said one of the shooters was known to the agency, but not in “an immediate threat perspective’’.
“The national terrorism threat level remains at probable,’’ Burgess said. “Probable means there is a 50% chance of an act of terror and unfortunately we’ve seen that horrific act tonight.’’
At a press conference in Canberra following the committee's meeting, Albanese confirmed the attack targeted Jewish Australians celebrating the start of the Chanukah festival.
"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."
Describing the event as “beyond comprehension’’ Albanese urged Australians to support the Jewish community and its time of grief.
“An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian and every Australian tonight will be, like me, devastated about this attack on our way of life.
“My message to Jewish Australians is that your fellow Australians stand with you tonight in condemning this act of terror, in condemning this outrage.’’
At least 12 individuals killed at Bondi shooting, declared terrorist incident
More news: NSW Premier Chris Minns has confirmed that the death toll from the Bondi Beach shooting has risen to at least 12 civilians, as police have classified the incident as a terrorism event.
Minns said in a press conference "there are at least 12 individuals that have been killed".
"One of the offenders has also been killed and one is in custody," Minns said.
"This attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack."
He said the "cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see, and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney".
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said there would be a "significant investigation" into the event and asked the public for calm, urging that it is not a time for retribution.
Details about the deceased victims were not available at this point, with Lanyon saying it is "very early" in terms of the investigation.
"I'm well aware on social media that an identity of a person believed to be one of the gunmen has been circulated there. When I asked for calm, that is really important. This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty."
NSW Police confirm 10 deaths at Bondi, including a suspected shooter
More news: NSW Police have issued a media statement about the Bondi shooting, saying there have so far been 10 people confirmed dead, including a man believed to be one of the shooters. A second shooter is in critical condition.
Another 11 people are injured, including two police officers.
The police operation and multi-agency response is ongoing.
"A number of suspicious items located in the vicinity are being examined by specialist officers and an exclusion zone is in place," the statement says.
"An extensive crime scene has been established and inquiries are now underway."
The statement noted that the number of casualties is expected to change and emphasised there have been no reports of other incidents in Sydney connected to this shooting.
Opposition leader offers 'full and unconditional support' to government in shooting response
More news: Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has issued a statement on the shooting at Bondi Beach and offered Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as well as all Commonwealth and state agencies, the Coalition's "full and unconditional support" in responding to the situation.
She acknowledged the "swift and courageous response" of NSW police and paramedics.
What they said: "Australians are in deep mourning tonight, with hateful violence striking at the heart of an iconic Australian community, a place we all know so well and love, Bondi," Ley said in a statement.
"The loss of life from this attack is significant and I join with the Prime Minister in urging all Australians to follow official advice from police and relevant authorities," she said.
"This attack occurred as our Jewish community came together at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration. This was a celebration of peace and hope for the future, severed by hate.
"My heart is with Australia’s Jewish community tonight, particularly those in the eastern suburbs of Sydney — people I know well.
"Today we stand together as Australians against hate in this moment of profound tragedy and shock."
PM Albanese reacts to 'shocking and distressing' shooting incident in Bondi
The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians in the vicinity of Bondi in New South Wales to follow information from the NSW Police following a shooting incident he described as "shocking and distressing".
The context: The ABC is reporting that two people have been arrested at Sydney's Bondi Beach following reports of an active shooter with emergency services at the scene.
According to multiple reports, the shooting took place at the northern end of the beach where a Chanukah by the Sea event was scheduled to take place. Tonight marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday Hannukah.
The statement in full: "The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected. I have just have spoken to the AFP Commissioner and the NSW Premier.
We are working with NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed. I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police."
The sources: PM Statement , NSW Police media release, Marco Rubio, Antonio Guterres, The Sydney Morning Herald
