What we know about the Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to strengthen the country’s gun laws following a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community.
Fifteen people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed in the attack. Mr Albanese described the incident as an “act of antisemitism” and an act of terrorism.
Police allege the two attackers were a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son, Naveed Akram, 24, was taken to hospital. His condition remains unknown.
The prime minister said preliminary evidence suggests the attack may have been inspired by Islamic State (IS), after two IS flags were found in a car linked to the alleged attackers.
Mass shootings are extremely rare in Australia. This is the country’s deadliest attack since 1996, when 35 people were killed in the Port Arthur massacre. Police have formally declared the Bondi Beach shooting a terrorist incident.
Here is what is known so far.
Read Also: Private Ticketing Platform “Ticketor” Puts Brands at the Forefront
How did it unfold?
On Sunday 14 December at 18:47 local time (07:47 GMT), police received reports of gunfire at a park near Bondi Beach.
Verified videos show people running from the area in panic as gunshots rang out. Witnesses can be heard screaming as crowds flee the beach.
Some footage appears to show two gunmen firing from a small bridge near a car park on Campbell Parade, at the northern end of Bondi Beach. The attackers were shooting down towards a section of parkland where the Hanukkah celebration was taking place.
Separate video recorded minutes later shows a bystander, later identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, confronting and disarming one of the attackers. Mr al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner and father of two, is seen tackling the gunman, taking his weapon and pointing it back at him.
The gunman then retreats towards the bridge, where the second attacker is continuing to fire.
In the same footage, another man who appears to be injured is seen running away as police arrive and begin shooting in the direction of the attackers.
Another verified video shows several police officers on the bridge. One officer appears to be performing CPR on a motionless man while a voice is heard shouting: “He’s dead, he’s dead.”
At 18:57, New South Wales Police issued their first public statement, urging people at the scene to take shelter and advising others to avoid the area.
By 19:39, police confirmed that two people were in custody. At 22:00, NSW Police formally classified the incident as a terrorist attack targeting Sydney’s Jewish community.
