Translated with AI
Fifteen people were killed in a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday, including one of the attackers. According to preliminary reports, two people carried out the shooting. Police identified the attackers as a father and son. The 50-year-old man was killed at the scene, and his 24-year-old son was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The attack occurred as a large number of families were celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Police described the incident as a terrorist attack.
Witnesses said the attack on one of Sydney's most popular beaches, which was crowded on a hot evening, lasted about ten minutes.
At 6:47 p.m. local time (07:47 GMT) on Sunday, Sydney police received a report of a shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at a small park near the beach where more than a thousand people had gathered.
A video later emerged, verified by the BBC, showing two men firing at people for several minutes from a footbridge leading to the beach. Another video shows a bystander sneaking up on one of the shooters as he descended from the footbridge toward the beach, attacking him from behind, and snatching his rifle or shotgun, after which the shooter fled.
The death toll from the shooting continued to rise. According to the latest figures, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said 15 people had been killed in the attack, and one of the shooters had also died.
The 50-year-old attacker was killed on the spot, police said at a briefing, and his 24-year-old son is in critical condition in hospital.
Another 40 people remain hospitalized following the attack, including two police officers who are in serious but stable condition. The ages of the victims range from 10 to 87.
Officials characterized the shooting as a targeted anti-Semitic attack. Police said they were treating the incident as a terrorist attack targeting Sydney's Jewish community. The car, believed to have belonged to the attackers, may have contained several improvised explosive devices.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the 50-year-old attacker was a member of a shooting club and met the criteria for a recreational firearms license. He said he had held a Category AB license, which allowed him to possess a long gun, since 2015. He also noted that the man and his son had been in Australia for some time, but declined to comment on their citizenship.
A passerby who managed to disarm one of the attackers was identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old local resident, father of two, and fruit store owner. The second gunman, who remained on the bridge, wounded him in the shoulder and arm. Al-Ahmed was taken to the hospital; his life is not believed to be in danger, according to preliminary reports.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called him a hero and said his actions saved many lives.
The Hanukkah celebration took place from 5:00 PM local time (6:00 AM GMT) on the lawn next to the playground and was organized by the Chabad of Bondi Jewish center. Over a thousand people attended.
One of the victims was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. His relatives confirmed his death. Schlanger was 41 years old and survived by five children. According to his cousin, Zalman Lewis, he was an energetic, cheerful, and friendly man.
As a BBC correspondent reported, the event took place near the pedestrian bridge from which the shooting took place. The area was cordoned off with a metal fence, and entry and exit were through a gate where bags were checked, but security measures did not appear excessive.
The Sydney shooting was the worst violent incident in Australia in nearly 30 years. Authorities stated they were certain only two attackers were involved, despite earlier reports that a third person was being investigated. Police presence in Jewish areas was increased.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach and laid flowers near the site of the attack. He called the incident a dark moment for the country and stated that law enforcement agencies continue to thoroughly investigate the attackers' motives.
Albanese also reported that several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, had contacted him to express solidarity with Australia. Trump declared the incident an obvious anti-Semitic attack.
