At least 11 people have been killed in a deadly “terrorist” incident on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Chaos ensued when two gunmen opened fire at around 18:30 (local time) today.
Australian police said officials found an “improvised explosive device” in a car linked to the Bondi gunman, with Mal Lanyon, New South Wales state police commissioner, describing the death toll as “fluid” – with the death toll expected to keep changing.
“Due to the circumstances of the incident this evening at 9.36pm I have declared it a terrorist incident,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told a news conference.
Bondi Beach Sydney Shooting – 10 points
- The death toll is rising – Multiple reports say the shooting death toll has risen to 12, while 30 others were injured when gunmen opened fire on a Jewish holiday at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday. Bondi Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is typically crowded with locals and tourists.
2. One accused killed, another critical – One suspected shooter was killed and another was in a critical condition, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a news conference.
Follow all the live updates from the Bondi Beach shoot here
3. 10 minutes, about 1000 people – Eyewitnesses said the shooting lasted for about 10 minutes and hundreds of people scattered across the sand and into nearby streets and parks. Police said around 1,000 people attended the Hanukkah event alone.
4. IED found – Australian police say they found an improvised explosive device in a car linked to the shooter.
5. Semi-automatic rifles spotted – A British tourist told AFP he saw “two gunmen in black” after the shooting broke out. “There was a shooting, two gunmen in black with semi-automatic rifles,” Timothy Brant-Coles told AFP, adding that he saw several people shot and injured.
6. The shooting range turns into a crime scene – Several police ambulances arrived at the parking lot of the bridge where the gunmen opened fire, close to the vehicle in which the IEDs were found. According to a BBC report, police said the devices have been secured and are being removed. The area is no longer a containment zone but has been declared a crime scene, with investigators expected to remain on the scene throughout the night, the release said.
7. A third shooter involved? Police have so far released information about the two gunmen. Earlier, a BBC report mentioned that New South Wales Police Commissioner Lanyon ad said authorities were investigating whether a third gunman was involved.
8. A hero who saved a life – Hours after the shooting, a video appeared on social media showing a man trying to disarm one of the gunmen. A video posted by Spectator Index on X showed a bystander run up to the gunman, grab him by the arms and shoot the assailant multiple times – with many netizens hailing him as a hero.
9. ‘Shocking and disturbing’– Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the loss of life in the terror attack, calling the scenes in Bondi “shocking and disheartening”.
10. The British Prime Minister offers his condolences – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday that the deadly attack on a Jewish rally in Sydney was “disgusting” and that “the United Kingdom will always stand by Australia and the Jewish community.”
