Sydney (TDI): Australian authorities have revealed that the two men who carried out the deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach were a father and son. The attack, which killed 15 people, is being treated as the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.
The father, aged 50, was killed at the scene, bringing the total death toll to 16. His 24-year-old son is in critical condition in hospital. Local media identified the pair as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. Police have described the incident as a deliberate anti-Semitic attack.
Around 1,000 people were attending the event at a small park near the beach when the shooting began. Witnesses reported that the attack lasted approximately ten minutes, sending crowds running across the sand and into nearby streets. Forty others remain hospitalized, including two police officers in serious but stable condition. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
A bystander who intervened during the attack has been hailed as a hero. Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, reportedly tackled one of the gunmen, saving countless lives. He was shot twice in the incident and has undergone surgery. A fundraising campaign for him has raised over A$350,000 (£233,000).
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Authorities confirmed the father held a firearms license since 2015 and legally owned six guns. Details about the weapons used in the attack are limited, though footage suggests a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun were involved.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Bondi Beach to pay tribute to the victims, calling the attack “an act of pure evil” and emphasizing the need to combat anti-Semitism. He urged Australians to light a candle in solidarity with the Jewish community as part of Hanukkah’s message of hope. Leaders from around the world, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, have offered condolences.
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Sunday’s attack marks a significant escalation in anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, which have increased since Israel’s military operations in Gaza began in October 2023. Mass shootings are rare in the country, with the previous deadliest event occurring in 1996 at Port Arthur, Tasmania, when 35 people were killed.
