National flags across Australia flew at half-mast Monday as the country processed the deadliest gun violence incident in nearly thirty years—a targeted shooting at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people attending a Hanukkah celebration. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the iconic beach location to pay respects, calling the attack “pure evil” and explicitly identifying it as antisemitic terrorism.
The Sunday evening massacre unfolded at one of Sydney’s most famous destinations during what should have been a joyful religious observance. Approximately 1,000 people had gathered in a small park adjacent to the beach when two gunmen, later identified as father and son, began firing into the crowd. The attack lasted roughly ten minutes, creating scenes of terror as families and children fled across the sand seeking safety.
Law enforcement fatally shot the older attacker, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, at the scene, bringing the total death toll to sixteen. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, survived with life-threatening injuries and remained hospitalized under guard. Police described the incident as a calculated assault on the Jewish community, with the Hanukkah event clearly selected as the target.
Hospital treatment continued for forty individuals injured in the rampage, including two police officers fighting serious but stable injuries. The victims spanned multiple generations, with the youngest just ten years old and the eldest 87, highlighting the family-oriented nature of the targeted celebration. Among the wounded was Ahmed al Ahmed, a local business owner who bravely confronted one shooter and wrestled away his weapon despite being shot in the arm and hand.
The magnitude of this tragedy has forced Australians to confront the reality of targeted religious violence in their relatively peaceful nation. Albanese’s comments emphasized the violation of a space traditionally associated with happiness and community gathering. As investigators worked to understand the attackers’ motivations and planning, the country united in grief and determination to stand against antisemitism and all forms of hatred that threaten public safety.