Three Indian students were among those injured in a fatal shooting on Sydney’s Bondi Beach as Australian authorities officially declared the attack a terrorist incident inspired by Islamic State ideology.
The Bondi Beach violence, which unfolded during Hanukkah celebrations, has left the nation grappling with grief, anger and a renewed debate over gun control.
Initial reports cited by Australia Today said three Indian students were injured during the shooting, with at least two reportedly being treated in hospital. The publication said the students suffered gunshot wounds to the thigh and leg, although their identities and exact medical conditions have yet to be officially confirmed.
What happened at Bondi Beach?
The terrorist attack took place on Sunday night at Bondi Beach, Australia’s most famous stretch of sand, where crowds had gathered to celebrate Hanukkah. Two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Australian history.
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The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the attack. Authorities said the attack was designed to instill fear in the country’s Jewish community.
What did Australian leaders say?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday that the shooting had been declared an act of terrorism and that investigators were examining evidence pointing to an extremist motivation.
The joint press conference of political and law enforcement officials marked the first official confirmation of the suspects’ ideological leanings. Albanese said the assessment was based on physical evidence, including “the presence of Islamic State flags in the seized vehicle.”
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett was clearer, describing the massacre as an “Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack”.
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“The suspected killers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appeared to have no regard for the age or abilities of their victims,” Barrett said. “The alleged killers seem only interested in the search for death.”
Who were the suspects?
Australian authorities said the suspects were a father and son aged 50 and 24. An elderly man, identified by state officials as Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by police at the scene. His son was taken to hospital and remains under treatment.
Police also found a vehicle registered to the younger suspect near the beach. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed the car contained improvised explosive devices.
“I can also confirm that it contained two homemade ISIS flags,” Lanyon said.
How many people remain hospitalized?
As of Tuesday, 25 people were still being treated in hospitals after the shooting. Of those, 10 were in critical condition and three were patients at Children’s Hospital.
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Among the wounded was Ahmed al Ahmed, who was captured on video confronting and disarming one of the attackers before laying the weapon on the ground. Albanese visited him in hospital, where the 42-year-old Syrian-born fruit shop owner was recovering from gunshot wounds to his left shoulder and upper body, with further surgery planned.
“It was a great honor to meet Ahmed al Ahmed. He is a true Australian hero,” Albanese said after the visit.
“We are a brave country. Ahmed al Ahmed represents the best of our country. We will not allow this country to be divided. That is what the terrorists are after. We will unite. We will embrace each other and we will get through this,” he added.
Why are the authorities investigating the connection to the Philippines?
Investigators are also examining the foreign travels of the suspects. Commissioner Lanyon confirmed the two men traveled to the Philippines last month and authorities are now trying to establish the reasons for their travel and any potential ties abroad.
Philippine immigration officials confirmed that Sajid Akram and his son Naveed were in the country from November 1 to November 28, citing Davao as their destination.
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While militant groups such as Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines have historically expressed support for Islamic State, Philippine security officials have said there is no recent evidence of foreign militants operating in the region.
Will Australia tighten gun laws?
The attack has renewed calls for stricter gun control. Albanians and several state leaders have pledged to strengthen Australia’s already strict gun laws in what could be the most significant overhaul since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, after which mass shootings became a rarity.
Albanese said the additional restrictions were necessary after it emerged the older suspect had legally obtained six firearms.
How did the public react?
Australians rallied in solidarity in the days following the massacre. Thousands of people visited Bondi Beach to lay flowers and pay tribute to the victims, while record numbers signed up to donate blood.
Almost 50,000 blood donation appointments were booked nationally on Monday alone – more than double the previous record – according to Australia’s national blood service, Lifeblood. Almost 1,300 people have registered as first-time donors, with queues stretching for hours at some Sydney centres.
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The site was also visited by Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, who said: “I’m not sure my vocabulary is rich enough to express how I feel. My heart is broken because the Jewish community, Australians of the Jewish faith, the Jewish community is my community too.”
