What we know so far about mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach
At least 16 people were killed, including one of two gunmen who opened fire at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach. The other suspect is in custody and remains in a critical condition.
Monday 15 December 2025 07:38, UK
At least 16 people have been killed, including a 10-year-old girl, after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Here is what we know so far about what happened in the Australian coastal city.
How many people were killed or injured?
Among the 16 fatalities are a 10-year-old girl. Those killed range in age between 10 and 87, according to New South Wales police.
A total of 40 people were injured in the attack. As of 5pm local time on Monday, 27 people are still receiving treatment in hospitals. Six people are in a critical condition and another six are in a critical but stable condition.
These police figures include the two suspects, one of whom was killed at the scene, while the other is in custody in a critical condition.
Only one victim has been identified so far. The family of British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, have paid tribute to him.
Israel's foreign ministry also said an Israeli citizen had been killed.
How did the shooting unfold?
More than 1,000 people were at an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the time of the shooting, police said.
Officers were called at about 6.47pm on Sunday (7.47am UK time), as they responded to reports of shots being fired at Archer Park, Bondi Beach.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said two individuals fired on a "crowded group of families" at the park in a "cowardly act of terrifying violence".
Officers have declared the attack a terrorist incident.
One video showed two gunmen appearing to open fire from a small bridge overlooking the beach, while another showed fleeing crowds running on the beach.
In a third video, a bystander can be seen wrestling a rifle from one of the gunmen.
Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, who was shot twice in the incident, then aims the weapon at the attacker, who seems to run towards his accomplice on a bridge.
Who are the suspected gunmen?
One of the suspected gunmen is 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who was critically injured.
His driver's licence says he lives in Bonnyrigg, a suburb of Sydney.
The identity of the other suspected attacker, who died at the scene, is not known but police say he is a 50-year-old father.
What have witnesses said?
Witnesses have described the terror and confusion as masses of people fled the beach.
Arsen Ostrovsky was injured and said the shooting was an "absolute bloodbath".
He said he had also "survived October 7th" - the Hamas attack on Israel two years ago.
He told Paste BN Australia he had only been in Australia for a fortnight.
Mr Ostrovsky said: "I lived in Israel the last 13 years. We came here only two weeks ago to work in the Jewish community, to fight antisemitism, to fight this bloodthirsty, ravaging hatred. That's why I'm here. You know, we've lived through worse. We're going to get through this."
He added: "I saw at least one gunman firing. Looked like a shotgun, firing randomly in all directions. I saw children falling to the floor, elderly, I saw invalids… it was just an absolute bloodbath."
Elodie Obkircher told Paste BN she and her boyfriend were at the nearby North Bondi RSL club when the shooting happened.
She said: "We heard 10 gunshots. So everyone dropped down to the ground. A lot of us were crying and shaking. It was very traumatic.
"It was absolute chaos.
"We could hear the rounds of shots. At first, everyone thought it was fireworks, but I saw people running along the beach. I've never seen so many people running.
"We could see everyone hiding behind their cars. And then as soon as we heard the shots, 10 rounds go, we knew it was a gunman."
Another witness told 9News there were "thousands of people just like running".
"And I opened up the back gate to my friend's cafe and just let everyone in. Pregnant women, women with kids, just everyone's running.
"It was pandemonium."
Meanwhile, Rabbi Levi Wolff, of Central Synagogue Sydney, went to the scene when he was informed about the shooting.
He told Paste BN: "We are on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, known as the Festival of Lights, and there was about to be a public menorah lighting for the first night of the Jewish holiday.
"And the gunmen were just shooting at those who were there present for the menorah lighting."
Rabbi Wolff went on to say that his colleague and friend, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was killed in the terror attack.
He said he was "full of light, full of unbelievable energy" and "gave so much of himself to this very community".
Jewish News, speaking to Mr Schlanger's cousin, reports that he was born in London.
What have police said?
Police said their operation was "ongoing" and a "number of suspicious items located in the vicinity" were being examined by specialist officers.
An exclusion zone was in place, they added.
They later said a police bomb disposal unit was working on a suspected improvised explosive device in one of the suspects' cars.
Police also raided the home of a suspect in the suburb of Bonnyrigg.
How have world leaders reacted?
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called it a "horrifying evil attack" while the country's prime minister Anthony Albanese said it was a "devastating" terrorist attack that struck at the heart of the nation.
Donald Trump said it was "terrible" and "antisemitic", but also praised the "very brave" man who tackled one of the gunman.
King Charles said he and Queen Camilla were "appalled and saddened" while Sir Keir Starmer described the shooting as "sickening".
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "cold-blooded murder", but also pointed out that he had previously warned Anthony Albanese about growing antisemitism in Australia.