Bondi Beach Massacre In Detail: What Happened At Hanukkah Event, Who Were The Shooters, What We Know So Far

In just 10 minutes, the fate of several families changed and how, as an antisemitic attack, one of the worst in recent years, sent shockwaves across Australia and the global community. In one of the deadliest mass shootings, a targeted attack on Sydney’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, killed at least 15.

Authorities have now confirmed the incident as an act of terrorism, as investigations continue into the motive, weapons, and broader security implications.

What happened at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening?

The attack unfolded on Sunday evening (December 14, 2025) during Chanukah by the Sea, a public Hanukkah event held near Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach. According to police, 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram opened fire on crowds from a pedestrian footbridge overlooking the area.

At least 15 people, including one of the gunmen, were killed in the shooting. Among the dead was a child. As many as 42 others were injured and hospitalised, several with critical wounds. The beach, packed with families, locals and tourists, descended into chaos as people ran for cover amid gunfire.

Witnesses described hearing repeated loud bangs, seeing injured people collapse, and a frantic stampede as crowds fled the scene.

Bondi Beach shootings: Who were the attackers?

Police identified the attackers as father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, both residents of suburban Sydney. 50-year-old Akram arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which later transitioned to a partner visa in 2001. He had been living on a resident return visa and legally owned six firearms.

Authorities said he was also a member of a recreational gun club. Sajid, who reportedly ran a fruit shop, was shot dead by police at the scene, according to a report in the Sunday Morning Herald.

His son Naveed Akram, 24, is an Australian citizen, born in 2001. He sustained critical injuries during the incident and remains under police guard in hospital. His condition is described as critical but stable. Police revealed that the pair had told family members they were heading on a weekend fishing trip to Jervis Bay shortly before carrying out the attack.

How did police respond during the attack?

Police officers at the scene engaged the gunmen within minutes. Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police, bringing the shooting to an end. Naveed Akram was apprehended and rushed to hospital Authorities later confirmed that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were discovered inside the attackers’ vehicle, raising further concerns.

Who is the civilian hero who helped stop the attack?

A bystander identified as 43-year-old Ahmed Al Ahmed has been hailed as a real-life hero for confronting one of the attackers during the chaos. Witnesses and family members said Ahmed waited until a gunman ran out of ammunition, then tackled him and wrestled the weapon away.

Ahmed was shot four to five times in the shoulder during the ordeal, with several bullets still lodged in his body, according to his parents. A fruit seller by profession and an Australian citizen, Ahmed remains hospitalised but is receiving treatment. His mother told Australian media that her son acted because “he saw people dying and losing their lives.”

Bondi Beach killings: What have police found in raids post shooting?

In the aftermath, police carried out multiple raids across Sydney. A short-term rental property in Campsie, where the father and son were believed to be staying, was searched. Their family home in Bonnyrigg was also raided, leading to two arrests.

Six firearms were seized from the Bonnyrigg property. Investigators are examining how the attackers accessed high-powered weapons and whether any individuals assisted them before or after the attack.

Why has the attack been declared a terrorist incident?

Authorities have formally declared the shooting a terrorist act, citing its targeted nature against Jewish Australians during a religious celebration. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described it as “an act of evil anti-Semitism” and convened an emergency meeting of Australia’s National Security Committee.

“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy and celebration of faith,” Albanese said, calling the violence “beyond comprehension.” He added that intelligence agencies had advised there was no evidence the attackers were part of a larger terrorist cell or had outside collaborators.

Worth mentioning here is that Sunday’s massacre comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia since the outbreak of the Israel–Gaza war in October 2023. Synagogues, Jewish-owned buildings, and vehicles have been targeted in multiple attacks, heightening security concerns within the community.

Australia’s Jewish population numbers about 150,000 people, with roughly one-third living in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including Bondi. The Bondi Beach attack is the country’s worst shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where 35 people were killed.

Australia shootings: How have global leaders responded?

International condemnation was swift. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said antisemitism “has no place in this world” and offered prayers for the victims and Australia’s Jewish community.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack “cold-blooded murder” and said he had previously warned Albanese about rising antisemitism. He criticised Australia’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing it emboldened extremist violence.

Domestically, the Australian National Imams Council issued a strong condemnation, stating that such violence “has no place in our society” and that those responsible must face the full force of the law.