A mass shooting at Bondi Beach, a famous beach in eastern Sydney, Australia, left 12 people dead. Authorities designated the incident as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
According to ABC, Reuters and AFP on the 14th (local time), two armed suspects opened fire around 6:40 p.m. near Campbell Parade in central Bondi Beach. Police who rushed to the scene shot dead one gunman and arrested the other.
Including the shooters, 12 people were killed, and 29 people, including civilians and police, were injured and taken to hospitals. Two injured police officers were undergoing surgery but were reported to be in critical condition. The arrested gunman is also in danger, and the death toll could rise.
Immediately after the shooting, police found several devices suspected to be improvised explosives in vehicles near Campbell Parade, the road that links Bondi Beach and the town center, and are dismantling them. Whether there is a third accomplice is under investigation.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said in a statement, "Police are responding to an incident at Bondi Beach," urging, "Everyone at the scene, evacuate."
On the same day at Bondi Beach, a "Hanukkah by the sea" event began at 5 p.m. More than 1,000 people were said to have attended. Hanukkah is one of the Jewish festivals and runs for eight days from late November to early December. It was the first day of Hanukkah.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, "Given the circumstances of what occurred, we are declaring it a terrorist incident," adding, "Considering it was the first day of Hanukkah and the types of weapons and items found at the scene, it was sufficient to designate it as a terrorist attack."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an emergency address, "This was a targeted attack on Australian Jews on the first day of Hanukkah, a day that should be a festival of joy and faith," adding, "This was a vicious antisemitic act of terror that struck at the heart of our country."