Father and Son Behind Bondi Beach Attack That Killed 15 at Jewish Festival in Australia

A father and son have been identified as the perpetrators of a deadly shooting at a Jewish festival in Bondi Beach, Sydney, leaving 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, and injuring 42 others. The attack, which took place Sunday evening during Hanukkah celebrations, is being described by Australian authorities as an antisemitic act of terrorism.

The shooters fired from a raised boardwalk overlooking the beach, which was crowded with festival-goers and tourists. Using long-barrelled guns, they unleashed gunfire for around 10 minutes before police intervened. The 50-year-old father was shot and killed by officers, while his 24-year-old son was arrested and remains hospitalized with serious injuries. Authorities say the attack was clearly aimed at spreading fear among Australia’s Jewish community. A homemade bomb was later discovered in a car near the scene, believed to have been planted by the attackers.

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of panic and heroism as people fled for safety. Ahmed al Ahmed, a local fruit seller, reportedly wrestled a gun from one of the attackers, while off-duty lifeguards dashed into danger to rescue children and assist the wounded. Surfboards were used as makeshift stretchers to carry victims to safety, and some festival-goers hid in shops or on nearby hills while gunfire rang out.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as “an act of pure evil” and laid flowers at Bondi Pavillion. Flags were lowered to half-mast across the country as Australians mourned the dead. International leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, also condemned the killings as antisemitic violence.

Mass shootings are rare in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which led to strict gun reforms. Authorities revealed that the father owned six licensed firearms, which were used in the attack, prompting discussions about tightening gun laws further. The shooting follows a series of antisemitic incidents in Australia, including arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites, some linked to international tensions in the Middle East.