A shooting during a Jacuná celebration in Sydney killed at least 15 people. The attack on the Jewish community shocks Australia and resonates in Israel.
Australia was shaken by one of the deadliest acts of mass violence in its modern history after a shooting during a Jewish community event at Bondi Beach left at least 15 people dead and more than 40 injured.
The attack took place during a public celebration marking the beginning of Jacuná, a major Jewish holiday, and is being investigated as a terrorist act motivated by antisemitism.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Archer Park, a grassy area just behind Bondi Beach, one of the country’s most iconic and crowded coastal landmarks.
More than 1,000 people were attending the event when gunfire erupted from a nearby pedestrian bridge, triggering panic and a chaotic stampede toward the beach, surrounding streets, and nearby parks.
Authorities in New South Wales confirmed that the attackers were a father and son. The father, 50, died shortly after the shooting, while the 24-year-old son was seriously wounded and remains in police custody.
Investigators later discovered improvised explosive devices inside the deceased attacker’s vehicle, which were safely dismantled by bomb disposal units.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the attack was “clearly planned to target Sydney’s Jewish community.”
The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, a detail that underscored the scale of the tragedy. “What should have been a night of peace and joy was shattered by an act of hatred,” Minns told reporters.
The shooting has deeply rattled Australia, a country long regarded as a global model for strict gun control laws.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “a vile act of antisemitic terrorism that strikes at the heart of our nation” and vowed that all necessary resources would be devoted to the investigation.
One dramatic moment during the attack involved a civilian who managed to disarm one of the shooters after a brief struggle, an act captured on video and broadcast by local media.
The man, identified as Ahmed Al Ahmed, was injured and remains hospitalized. Officials and community leaders hailed him as a “true hero.”
International condemnation was swift. Leaders in Israel strongly denounced the attack, with the country’s foreign minister calling on Australian authorities to take urgent action against antisemitism.
Messages of solidarity also arrived from the United States and Europe, reflecting growing global concern over violence targeting Jewish communities.
Jewish organizations in Australia warned that the shooting was not an isolated incident but the result of rising hostility and unchecked hate speech.
“This has been building beneath the surface for some time,” said Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who urged the government to strengthen protections for community institutions and public gatherings.
In response, Australian authorities increased security around synagogues, Jewish schools, and community centers nationwide. Police patrols were reinforced, and armed officers were deployed to areas deemed at higher risk.
The attack has reignited a broader debate in Australia about radicalization, online extremism, and the prevention of hate-driven violence.
It also raises difficult questions about the safety of religious minorities in Western democracies, particularly amid heightened global tensions and conflicts involving the Middle East.
As investigators continue to examine the attackers’ motives and any possible networks, the nation remains in mourning.
For many, the tragedy carries a painful symbolism: a celebration of light, remembrance, and resilience—Jacuná—turned into a scene of fear and loss.
The events at Bondi Beach will likely mark a turning point in Australia’s national conversation about security, tolerance, and the responsibility of governments to confront antisemitism before it turns deadly.
