Two men, a father and a son, shot and killed 15 people on Sunday (December 14, 2025) on Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most popular beaches, during celebrations for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Authorities described the attack as “terrorist” and “anti-Semitic.”
New South Wales police on Monday increased the preliminary death toll in addition to one of the attackers from 11 to 15. There are 42 people in hospital.
The attackers were father and son, one of whom died in the shooting. on the famous Sydney beach.
“The 50-year-old man has died. The 24-year-old man is currently in hospital,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told a news conference, adding that authorities were not looking for any other suspects.
Albanese condemns “hatred and violence”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a televised address that it was “a targeted attack on Australian Jews” during Hanukkah, a holiday known as the Festival of Lights that should have been “a day of joy.”
“An act of evil, anti-Semitism and terrorism that has struck at the heart of our nation,” he added.
Albanese ordered flags to fly at half-mast as a sign of mourning and warned: “Australia will never submit to hate or violence. We will stand united and will not allow ourselves to be divided as a nation.”
The president added that the government was prepared to take “whatever it takes” to combat anti-Semitism, including possibly tightening legislation once the police investigation is complete.
Police: It was a “terrorist” attack
Police called the shooting a “terrorist” act and said they found “improvised explosive devices” linked to the deceased suspect in a vehicle near the beach.
About 1,000 people gathered on Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah, police said.
“We heard the shots. It was shocking; it felt like it was just ‘bang, bang, bang’ for 10 minutes. It seemed to be a powerful weapon,” Camilo Díaz, a 25-year-old Chilean student who was at the scene, told AFP.
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