Bondi Beach shooting took place during Jewish festival celebration
Warning: Some readers may find the images and descriptions in this article graphic and triggering. Discretion is advised.
A shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday (14 Dec) killed at least 12 people, leaving one alleged shooter dead and prompting police to arrest the other.
In a statement, the New South Wales (NSW) Police said police and emergency services responded at 6.45pm local time (3.45pm Singapore time).
They did so after receiving reports that someone had fired shots.
Source: @DrewPavLou on X
Beachgoers flee Bondi Beach shooting, motionless bodies on ground
Videos posted on the Internet showed scores of beachgoers fleeing in panic.
Source: @elikowaz on X
Some showed motionless bodies on the ground surrounded by bullet casings.
People tried to revive some of the victims, to little avail.
2 men seen shooting rifles
Other videos showed two men dressed in black carrying rifles and firing them as people screamed.
Source: @AustralianJA on X
One video showed a brave man tackling one of the shooters from behind and disarming him.
Source: @elikowaz on X
He then took his gun but did not shoot; instead, he chased him away by throwing something at him.
Source: @elikowaz on X
1 shooter dead, the other in critical condition
NSW Police confirmed that two shooters were behind the incident.
Authorities believe one of them has died, while the second alleged shooter remains in critical condition.
Police also detected “a number of suspicious items” in the vicinity. Specialist officers are examining them, and authorities have set up an exclusion zone.
12 dead & 29 injured so far
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that authorities have confirmed 12 deaths so far, including one of the shooters.
Authorities reported that 29 people suffered injuries, including two police officers and one of the shooters.
Paramedics conveyed the injured to nearby hospitals, where St Vincent’s Hospital, about 4km away, became “incredibly crowded and chaotic”.
A law enforcement official told ABC that one shooter was Naveed Akram, a man from the city’s south-west.
Though officials have not confirmed whether he is the shooter who died or the one who remains injured.
Attack declared as terrorist incident
The shooting took place amid a celebration for Hanukkah, which is a Jewish festival.
Hence, NSW Premier Chris Minns said it targeted Sydney’s Jewish community, with police also declaring it to be a terrorist incident.
In a Facebook post, Mr Minns assured the public of “a massive and comprehensive police and public order response”, adding:
This cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see, and represents some of our worst fears of terrorism in Sydney.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a statement of his own, said the shooting was “a targeted attack on Jewish Australians” and described it as an “act of evil” and “terrorism”.
Source: Anthony Albanese on Facebook
He added:
There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation.
Also read: 2 men ambushed & killed in shooting outside KL mall, victims had past gang connections
2 men ambushed & killed in shooting outside KL mall, victims had past gang connections
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Featured image adapted from @SinaHartung on X and @AustralianJA on X.
