At least 12 people have been killed and 29 others injured in a Sunday mass shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The shooters targeted a Jewish event for Hannukah, the festival of lights.
Australian police confirmed to ABC News that 12 people died in the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach, including one of the shooters and other victims.
Initially twelve others were reported injured, including several police officers who were responding to the scene, however, that number has increased as fresh news hits the headlines.
An ABC reporter who spoke with authorities earlier confirmed multiple fatalities and said that the threat is no longer active, with two suspects now in custody. It is now being speculated that three attackers took part in the shooting.
“Two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach; however, the police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area,” New South Wales police said on X amid reports of an exclusion zone.
According to authorities, there is still a bomb threat in the area, and they are currently working to deactivate what they have identified as an improvised explosive device (IED).
The shooting reportedly occurred at the northern end of Bondi Beach, near or at Bondi Park Playground, on the first day of Hanukkah (Chanukah), the eight-day Jewish festival of lights. A Chanukah by the Sea event was scheduled to be held at the playground.
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New South Wales Ambulance transported 16 patients to various hospitals, though their conditions are unknown.
Over 25 emergency resources, including medical teams, ambulances, helicopters, and special operations units, were dispatched to the scene.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement: “The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing.”
“We are working with NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed,” he added.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident “shocking and distressing”, adding that “emergency responders are on the ground and working to save lives.”
“I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere,” 30-year-old local Harry Wilson, who witnessed the shooting, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Jewish people who had gone to light the first candle of the Hanukkah holiday on the beach had been attacked by “vile terrorists.”
Israeli media has reported that one of the people killed in the shooting is a pro-Israel Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
Schlanger was among the first victims named after the shooting at Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach, The Jerusalem Post claimed.
At the time of writing, the motives and the identity of the attackers remains unknown, however, images have been shared on social media claiming to show the identity of one of the attackers.
More on this story as it develops.
