Australia: 15 killed in shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that his government was considering tougher gun laws after the Bondi beach shooting.

Australia already has tough gun laws, and the new laws under consideration by the center-left government include limiting the number of guns used or licensed by individuals, and periodically reviewing gun licenses. Australia already has tough gun laws. 

"The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws," Albanese said.

Earlier, Australian police said that one of the gunmen was licensed to hold six firearms.

"People's circumstances can change. People can be radicalized over a period of time. Licenses should not be in perpetuity," Albanese added.

Security presence was bolstered at Hanukkah events in major cities around the world, following Sunday's deadly mass shooting.

Cities including Berlin, London and New York stepped up security measures in the wake of the attack in Sydney.

"We have long planned comprehensive security for tonight's Hanukkah event at the Brandenburg Gate — in light of the events in Sydney, we will further intensify our measures and maintain a strong police presence there," the Berlin police said on X.

London's Metropolitan Police said there would be an "increased presence around synagogues and other community venues at this important time."

In a statement, the Met said that while there was no information to suggest a link between the attack in Sydney and any threat level in London, they would still be stepping up presence.

New York police also said they would also be bolstering police presence.

"While there is currently no specific or credible threat to Hanukkah celebrations here, the NYPD will be out in full force at events and synagogues so that our communities can gather safely," the NYPD said on X.

The family of the man who was filmed wrestling a firearm away from one of the Bondi gunmen told local media that he is recovering after surgery.

The man — identified by local media as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner — was filmed charging at one of the gunmen and disarming him.

He underwent surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hands.

Ahmed's cousin Mustafa told broadcaster, 7News Australia, that doctors had informed the family that Ahmed was in a stable condition, following surgery.

"He is a hero, he is a hundred percent hero," Mustafa said. "Still he is in the hospital and we don't know exactly what's going on inside ... but we hope he will be fine."

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Ahmed with just over A$200,000 ($132,900, €113,338) raised in a few hours. 

Meanwhile, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that the 50-year-old perpetrator, who is deceased, held six gun licenses — with all six firearms having been recovered.

Later on in the news conference in response to questions from the media that were present, Lanyon added that the gun license had been held for 10 years. 

With the investigation continuing to progress, the police commissioner also said there was currently no indication that the attack had been planned.

Two search warrants were also produced for two properties in the suburbs of Sydney, in Campsie and Bonnyrigg, with searches having taken place overnight.

During the same press conference, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed that 15 people and one perpetrator had died.

One of the deceased was also confirmed to have been a child, with the victims' ages ranging from 10 years old to 87 years old.

A further 42 victims currently remain in hospital, including two police officers.

"What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, associated with celebrations," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday.

The two perpetrators of the terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney were a father and son, the police commissioner of New South Wales has said.

At a press conference on Monday morning, NSW police chief Mal Lanyon said "the offenders are a 50-year-old and a 24-year-old male who are father and son."

Lanyon added that police were not searching for a third suspect.

He said the father had been killed during the incident, while the 24-year-old son was in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

In the wake of the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, DW's Gerhard Elfers talks to counter-terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler about the impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict on antisemitism, future threats and Australia's security policy.

Police for the Australian state of New South Wales where Sydney is located say the death toll from the Bondi Beach shooting has now risen to 16.   

The NSW Police Force, in a post on X, also said that 40 people remain in the hospital. 

"More information will be made available soon," the post added. 

US President Donald Trump has denounced the "antisemitic attack" at Bondi Beach.

"This was a terrible attack, 11 dead, 29 badly wounded. And that was an antisemitic attack, obviously," Trump said during an event at the White House.   

The US president also mentioned a "very brave person" who had confronted one of the shooters at Bondi Beach.

"Great respect to the man that did that," Trump said of the person who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen while he was perpetrating the shooting.

Chabad, a worldwide Orthodox Jewish movement, said Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among those killed at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah event.  

"For 18 years, since his marriage to wife Chaya, he has served as a rabbi and chaplain in the Bondi community," the official Chabad movement website Chabad.org posted on its X account.  

British media have reported that Schlanger, who lived in Australia, was born in the UK and grew up in London. 

The Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach was organized by Chabad,the group has said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry says one Israeli citizen was among those killed after gunmen fired on a Jewish holiday event at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday.

The ministry did not provide any further details.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he had spoken with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

Saar said the Australian government should take stronger action on antisemitism in the country.
He said that "security for the Jewish community in Australia will be achieved only through a real change in the public atmosphere."   

According to Jewish monitoring groups, including the Central Council of Jews in Germany, antisemitic incidents in Australia have risen by a factor of five since Israel's campaign against Hamas began, in response to the militant group's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

New South Wales premier Chris Minns has praised a bystander who tackled and disarmed an armed man during the attack, saying the intervention had saved lives.

Video circulating on social media shows a man in a white shirt running toward a gunman in a dark shirt holding a rifle in a car park.

The bystander tackles the gunman from behind, wrestles the rifle from his hands, and briefly points it back at him before placing the weapon on the ground.

The footage then shows the gunman stumbling backward toward a nearby bridge, where a second shooter was positioned.

Speaking at a press conference, Minns described the moment as extraordinary.

"It's the most unbelievable scene I've ever seen — a man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people," he said.

"That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery."

New South Wales police have activated special counterterrorism powers after declaring the Bondi Beach shooting a terrorist incident, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a news conference.

"As a result of the circumstances of the incident tonight at 9:36 p.m. this evening, I declared this to be a terrorist incident," Lanyon told a press conference.

"I’ve also authorized special powers... to ensure that if there is a third offender — and we are currently investigating that at the moment — we will make sure that we prevent any further activity."

"There is a massive police response," he said.

He said the investigation would be led by the counterterrorism command, supported by specialist units.

"We will have a significant investigation. Our counterterrorism command will lead this investigation with investigators from the state crime command. No stone will be left unturned," Lanyon said.

The commissioner said police are focused on public safety and urged calm. "We will focus to ensure that there is no further threat to the public," he said. "This is a time of calm. This is a time to make sure that there is no retribution."

The state premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, has confirmed at least 12 people have died in what he described as a targeted terrorist attack on Sydney’s Jewish community.

Minns said one of the suspects was among those killed, and another was in custody, after what he described as a "horrifying, evil attack."

"This attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah," he said. "What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered."

The premier said his thoughts were with Jewish Australians.

"Our heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community tonight," he said. "I can only imagine the pain that they’re feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday."

Minns said it was the responsibility of all Australians to stand with the Jewish community.
"It's a responsibility of all Australians to wrap their arms around Australia’s Jewish community and help them get through this incredibly difficult period," he said.

The premier also highlighted the danger faced by New South Wales police and "extraordinary acts of personal courage and bravery from individuals in our community."