Terror at Bondi Beach: Antisemitic Attack on Hanukkah Celebration Kills at Least 15 in Australia’s Deadliest Mass Shooting in 30 Years

A Day of Celebration Turns to Horror

SYDNEY – Nearly 1,000 people had gathered at Archer Park near Bondi Beach just before 7:00 PM local time on December 14, 2025, to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah at the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” event organized by Chabad of Bondi. Families danced, children played, and some beachgoers swam in the ocean as the sun set over one of Australia’s most iconic locations. The jubilant atmosphere was about to be shattered by an act of pure evil.

Emergency services received reports of gunshots just before 7:00 PM local time. Two men dressed in black opened fire on the crowd from a footbridge overlooking the carpark north of the Bondi Pavilion, reportedly using at least one bolt-action rifle. Witnesses reported that the gunmen ushered aside people who were not part of the Hanukkah event, deliberately targeting Jewish attendees.

The sound of gunfire sent hundreds fleeing in panic. Parents grabbed their children and ran. Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, told The Associated Press: “You heard a few pops, and I freaked out and ran away”. The shooting continued for several horrifying minutes as the gunmen methodically fired into the crowd below.

A Hero Emerges Amid the Chaos

In the midst of the carnage, an act of extraordinary courage saved countless lives. Ahmad al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen. Despite being unarmed and facing a man with a rifle, al-Ahmed charged at the attacker and wrestled the weapon away from him.

Al-Ahmed is now recovering in the hospital, hailed as a hero by Australian officials and community members alike. His actions likely prevented many more deaths as the gunman he disarmed was neutralized shortly after. Police arrived at the bridge minutes after the first gunman was shot.

The Perpetrators: A Father and Son

Authorities identified the suspects as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram. The 24-year-old suspect is an Australian-born citizen, while his father arrived in the country on a student visa in 1998 and later transferred to a partner visa in 2001.

Australian authorities confirmed the older gunman was a licensed firearms holder, highlighting concerns about how someone with legal access to weapons could carry out such an attack. Philippine authorities confirmed the Akrams arrived together in the Philippines on November 1, 2025, with Sajid using an Indian passport and his son using his Australian passport, listing their final destination as Davao—a major city on the southern island of Mindanao.

At 7:37 PM local time, police announced on social media that two people were in custody. At 9:00 PM, police confirmed an initial death toll of nine people, which would later increase to at least 15. Police also confirmed that an alleged gunman was killed and the second alleged gunman was in a critical condition. Around 9:36 PM, a terrorist incident was declared.

The Victims: From a Child to a Holocaust Survivor

The victims were aged between 10 and 87 years, according to police. At least eight victims have been publicly identified, their stories painting a heartbreaking picture of lives cut short:

Matilda, 10, was described by her aunt as “a very sweet, happy child, with a beautiful smile.” She was enjoying the festivities with her parents, younger sister, and friends when the gunmen opened fire.

Alex Kleytman, 87, was a Holocaust survivor who died while shielding his wife Larisa from one of the gunmen’s bullets. A native of Ukraine, Kleytman survived the Holocaust with his mother and younger brother in Siberia before migrating to Australia. He and his wife had been married for nearly 60 years and leave behind two children and 11 grandchildren. “I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me,” his wife Larisa said.

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was an assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi. He leaves behind his wife and five children, including a baby barely 2 months old. Rabbi Yaakov Levitan also died in the attack. He served as general manager of Chabad of Bondi and was secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, known for his kindness and tireless work assisting others.

Daniel Elkayam, in his late 20s, was a French citizen who had recently moved to Australia. He played for Rockdale Ilinden FC’s Premier League 1 team, where he was described as “an extremely talented and popular figure.” Elkayam had been providing technical support to NBC Universal in Sydney since December 2024.

Peter Meagher, known as “Marzo,” was a longtime volunteer at Randwick Rugby Club and former police officer working as a freelance photographer at the event. For him it was “simply a catastrophic case of being in the wrong place and at the wrong time”.

Tibor Weitzen, 78, immigrated to Australia from Israel in 1988. His granddaughter described him as someone who “only saw the best in people”. Marika Pogany, a Slovak citizen, was identified by friends and confirmed by former Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová as a close friend.

A Nation in Mourning

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the shooting, calling it “an act of pure evil”. Vigils to commemorate those killed in the attack, Australia’s worst in almost 30 years, were held around Australia on Monday evening. Hundreds laid flowers and lit candles at a memorial outside the Bondi Pavilion.

Rabbi Levi Wolff lit a menorah at Bondi Pavilion, and Israeli flags were placed among the tributes. “I’m really, really struggling to come to terms with what’s taken place here,” resident Sam Chipkin told Reuters. “Our family’s distraught… It’s a sad day for our Jewish community. Sad day for Bondi community. Sad day for Australia. Really heartbroken”.

Netanyahu’s Controversial Response

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to the attack sparked immediate controversy. In a video statement released hours after the shooting, Netanyahu directly blamed the Australian government for the massacre, stating that Australia’s policies “pour fuel on the antisemitic fire.”

Netanyahu specifically referenced a letter he had sent to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese three months earlier, in September 2025, after Australia recognized Palestinian statehood. “Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism,” Netanyahu said in his statement.

His criticism intensified as he continued: “Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia. You took no action. You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today.” Netanyahu also made an oblique attack on the Australian government, stating: “We will continue to denounce those who do not denounce, but instead encourage. We will continue to demand that they do what is needed of leaders of free nations. We will not give up, we will not bow our heads, we will continue to fight as our ancestors did.”

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry, led by hardline Likud minister Amichai Chikli, went even further in assigning blame. In a statement, the ministry claimed “the blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government,” arguing that “the Australian government is doing everything in its power to ensure that Australian Jews cannot live safely, peacefully, and securely as Jews in their own country.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned what he described as “the enormous wave of antisemitism” that he said “is plaguing Australian society,” calling on Canberra to take stronger action to protect Jewish communities.

When asked about Netanyahu’s remarks on Monday morning, Prime Minister Albanese took a conciliatory tone, emphasizing national unity over political disputes. “This is a moment for national unity. This is a moment for Australians to come together. That’s precisely what we’ll be doing,” Albanese told reporters in Sydney.

Albanese also announced his government would increase funding and support to protect Jewish community members. “We’re extending the funding for the National Council for Jewish Community Security and its state-based community security groups, to provide overall security cover to the Jewish community. We’re also working with Jewish community organisations to see how we can best support charity efforts, including through tax-deductible status for donations,” the Australian Prime Minister stated.

The Context: Rising Antisemitism in Australia

The shooting follows a steady rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry documented 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents across Australia between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, in addition to 2,062 incidents nationwide the year before—almost five times the average annual number before October 7, 2023.

In August 2024, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) lifted Australia’s national terrorism threat level from “possible” to “probable,” citing the risk of community tensions. The Bondi area had experienced heightened security concerns following the Bondi Junction stabbings in April 2024.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had warned his Australian counterpart that the country’s policies fuel antisemitism. “Three months ago I wrote to the Australian prime minister that your policy is pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism,” he said, referring to a letter he sent to Anthony Albanese in September after Australia recognized Palestine.

Calls for Stricter Gun Laws

Australia already had some of the strictest gun laws in the world following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when assault rifles, shotguns, and many semiautomatic rifles were banned. However, the number of firearms in Australia and the number of people licensed to own them had increased since Port Arthur. In New South Wales, there were 260,000 gun licenses in 2025, up from 181,000 in 2001.

Prime Minister Albanese announced Australia’s plans to strengthen its already tough gun laws with new measures that will restrict who gets a license. Officials said it is time to change the state’s gun legislation.

International Response

The attack drew condemnation from world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to “fight relentlessly against antisemitic hatred” and expressed “deep sadness” at the death of a French citizen. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the shooting “deeply distressing news.” US President Donald Trump condemned it as a “purely antisemitic attack”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that Australia and New Zealand are “closer than friends, we’re family,” adding that his thoughts and those of all New Zealanders are with those affected. Armed police in New Zealand were deployed to guard Jewish sites across the country, including the Holocaust Centre and Kadimah School.

Ongoing Investigation and Recovery

As of December 16, 25 people, including children, remain in the hospital. At least 40 people were hospitalized following the attack, including two police officers in serious but stable condition.

Israel’s ambassador to Australia visited the memorial site and called for greater protection of Jewish people in Australia. “My heart is torn apart,” Amir Maimon said, noting that he knew and had met people killed in the attack.

This is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, and the deadliest terror incident in Australian history. The investigation continues as Australia grapples with the implications of this attack on community safety, gun legislation, and the protection of religious minorities.