Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach turned from a party playpen to a seething riot when gunfire broke up a peaceful Hanukkah rally Sunday night. What started as a joyful community festival on the first night of the Jewish holiday turned out to be Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades. The attack has shocked the nation and raised burning questions about the increased antisemitism.
Two gunmen attack Hanukkah celebration at iconic beach
The father and son duo began firing at the hundreds of Jewish families who were celebrating Hanukkah by the Sea at Bondi Beach around 6:45 PM Sunday. The identified gunmen were 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram. Their targets were limited to the Jewish community event, but non-Jews were allowed to get out of the way. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that more than 1,000 people were in attendance when the shootings started, with ages ranging from 10 to 87 years old.
The older Akram had purchased six firearms found at the crime scene, which he had bought legally, according to the police. Police found two active improvised explosive devices in the car of the suspects, which was parked near Campbell Parade. The 50-year-old gunman died in a 10-minute shootout with police, and his son is in critical condition at a local hospital.
Hero bystander disarms gunman in dramatic encounter
The dramatic footage caught the moment fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed challenged one of the shooters and wrestled the gun from his hands. “That’s the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen,” said Premier Chris Minns of the heroic act of Ahmed, who saved numerous lives by disarming the shooter and using the gun against him.
Australian officials announce unprecedented response to terrorist attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the attack as a targeted act of terrorism against Jewish Australians on the first night of Hanukkah. The attack is a catastrophic escalation of the rising levels of antisemitism in Australia, which have reached record highs since October 2023. Albanese explained that “an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian” while announcing the immediate tightening of gun laws in Australia through national cabinet powers.
The shooting has led to a wave of international condemnation expressed by world leaders. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the attack, saying that “antisemitism has no place in this world.” King Charles expressed being “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack.” At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australia’s policies for “pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism.”
Community mourns victims as investigation reveals troubling connections
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the organizers of the Hanukkah event, was later confirmed to be among the 16 victims of the attack by Chabad officials. The 18-year veteran of the community had recently spoken out about growing antisemitism, advising people to “be more Jewish, act more Jewish, and look more Jewish” in light of the threats.
Another victim was Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, whose wife, Larissa, heard the sounds of “boom” before her husband fell to the ground. Through the investigation, it was discovered that Naveed Akram had been under surveillance by the intelligence agency in Australia for six months in 2019 due to suspected links with the ISIS group. However, the fact that he did not seem to pose a threat to public safety has been put into question following the attack.
This terrible act of terrorism has irreparably altered Australia’s associations with religious freedom and the safety of its citizens. While Australia faces its worst-ever antisemitic attack, the bravery shown by ordinary Australians, such as Ahmed al Ahmed, provides a glimmer of hope in these darkest of times. This tragedy reminds Australians that hatred can occur anywhere.
