Panic swept through Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening after gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, leaving several people feared dead and many others injured.
The attack occurred shortly before 7 p.m. near the beachfront, where a crowd had gathered to mark the Jewish festival. According to eyewitness accounts and social media footage, two armed men stood on a footbridge connecting Campbell Parade to the Bondi Pavilion and fired shots into the crowd, triggering chaos as people screamed and fled for safety.
In dramatic footage circulating online, a courageous bystander is seen confronting one of the gunmen and successfully disarming him. Multiple victims were later seen lying injured on the grass at North Bondi, while emergency responders rushed others into ambulances as shocked onlookers tried to offer help.
New South Wales Police confirmed that two suspects have been taken into custody but said the operation remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released an official casualty figure.
“Two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach; however, the police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area,” NSW Police said in a statement. “Please obey all police directions and do not cross police lines.”
In a further update, police urged residents and visitors to stay away from the Bondi Beach area and advised those nearby to remain sheltered until the situation is fully assessed.
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE after the Maccabean Revolt. Often called the Festival of Lights, it is typically marked by public gatherings, prayers, and celebrations.
Investigations into the motive and full circumstances surrounding the attack are ongoing.
