Bondi Beach shooting LIVE: 16 killed; father-son duo identified as attackers | Deatils about suspects

“There’s no evidence of collusion, no evidence that these people were part of a cell,” Australian PM Anthony Albanese told ABC.

He insisted that the attackers were “clearly” motivated by “extremist ideology”.

Israel’s National Security Council issued renewed safety guidelines for Israelis travelling abroad: A. It is strongly recommended to avoid attending mass events that are not secured. This includes events at synagogues, Chabad houses, Hanukkah parties, etc.

B. Be vigilant around Jewish/Israeli sites and report to security forces if anything unusual is detected (suspicious person, suspicious object.

“In Australia, as you know, that was a terrible attack. Eleven dead, 29 badly wounded. And that was an anti-Semitic attack, obviously. And it’s — I just want to pay my respects to everybody,” he said during a Christmas reception.

Mourners gathered at Bondi Pavilion on Monday, laying thousands of bouquets just steps from the beach where the deadly shooting took place. Adults and children were seen weeping, hugging and standing in silence, with police tape still visible nearby.

NSW Health says 27 people remain in hospital across Sydney following the Bondi Beach shooting, as of 5 pm today.

Patients are being treated at multiple hospitals, with a mix of critical, critical but stable, and stable conditions.

Several patients remain in critical care at St Vincent’s Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, while others are stable at facilities including Prince of Wales Hospital, St George Hospital, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, Royal North Shore Hospital, and Liverpool Hospital.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, briefing him on the Bondi Beach shooting and the ongoing investigation.

Wong said she thanked Jaishankar for his condolences and India’s messages of support, adding that both sides agreed there must be no place for antisemitism, violence or terrorism.

Police have raided a suburban home in Sydney as part of the investigation into the Bondi Beach attack. Authorities have not yet said who lived at the house.

Neighbours described scenes of chaos and fear as police officers swarmed what is usually a quiet residential street.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has “unequivocally condemned the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach,” stating that the “perpetrators of this horrendous attack do not represent our movement or the values we uphold.”

APAN said its members are “deeply saddened and heartbroken by the violence” against the Jewish community. The statement added.

“Week after week, we have gathered together – the best of our community, from First Nations leaders, members of the Jewish community, side by side with Palestinian siblings, and the wider Arab community, among many other allies from all walks of life. Together, we have insisted on a world that is free from racism and hate. And we will continue to insist that antisemitism, like all forms of racism and hate, has no place in our society.”

The organisation also praised Ahmed al Ahmed’s heroic intervention, saying: “His bravery calls on all of us to respond in kind, by standing against hatred and refusing to demonise or vilify Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities. We can only counter violence and fear by coming together at every opportunity.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government is providing rapid assistance to families of those killed in the Bondi Beach shooting, including those with relatives overseas.

“There are needs for the community right now… we have set up a specific section of the department rapidly dealing with visa processing at a pace that would not ordinarily be there,” Burke said, ensuring families can attend funerals quickly, in line with Jewish traditions.

The Department of Home Affairs is also exploring ways to help with funeral costs, he added.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the 24-year-old suspect was born in Australia and is an Australian citizen.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the younger suspect had come to the attention of authorities in October 2019, but at the time there was no indication of an ongoing threat or risk of violence.

Burke also said the 50-year-old father, the second suspect, arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa and later moved to a partner visa. He made only three overseas trips since then.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will place tougher gun laws on the Cabinet’s agenda later today, following the Bondi Beach shooting.

The proposed reforms include limits on the number of firearms an individual can own, a review of gun licences over time, and stronger checks and balances.

Australia already has some of the world’s strictest gun laws, introduced after a mass shooting nearly 30 years ago. Albanese said those reforms had made “an enormous difference,” adding that he is open to strengthening the laws further if needed.

New South Wales Police say a sixth firearm and a third improvised explosive device (IED) were found at the Bondi Beach crime scene on Monday, Guardian reported.

Detectives from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team earlier recovered three firearms and two IEDs from the scene overnight. Police also carried out searches at two homes in Bonnyrigg and Campsie, where they seized two more firearms and other items.

A 24-year-old man suspected in the Bondi Beach shooting remains in hospital and is likely to face criminal charges, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Monday.

The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has reacted to the deadly shooting that targeted Sydney’s Jewish community, calling it “a sad and shocking event, but unfortunately, not altogether surprising.”

Speaking to CNN, Jonathan Greenblatt said the Jewish community in Australia has been facing growing threats, noting that antisemitic “harassment, vandalism and violence, have all increased dramatically in Australia since October the seventh. It’s up nearly 500%.”

The 50-year-old father involved in the Bondi Beach terror attack held a recreational hunting license and was a member of a gun club, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed.

Police said the man, who was shot and killed at the scene, legally owned six firearms seized during the investigation. He is suspected of carrying out the attack alongside his 24-year-old son.

“The father has held a firearms license since 2015. We are very much working through the background of both persons. At this stage, we know very little about them,” Lanyon said.

Thirty-eight people are receiving treatment in hospital following the Bondi Beach terror attack on Sunday, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed.

The attack killed 15 people, with one of the suspects also dead. Earlier reports had put the number of hospitalised at 40.

One of the suspected gunmen in the Bondi Beach terror attack was on the radar of Australia’s intelligence service, ASIO chief Mike Burgess confirmed. He added the individual was not considered an immediate threat before the attack.

Former US President Joe Biden condemned the Bondi Beach shooting, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah celebration, calling it “shocking and unconscionable.”

“Jill and I stand with the Jewish community in Australia as they face unimaginable loss and suffering following a targeted attack at a Hanukkah celebration,” he wrote on social media Sunday. “It’s shocking and unconscionable.”

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed grief over recent tragedies, including the Bondi Beach shooting, while speaking at the National Menorah lighting in Washington, DC.

“There are moments of grief and resolve, but the meaning of Hanukkah speaks volumes,” Lutnick said, referring to the Brown University shooting, Sydney shooting and the ambush that killed three Americans in Syria. “We should celebrate proudly. We should celebrate loudly. We should celebrate being Jews.” He urged the crowd to celebrate their Jewish identity proudly and loudly, despite the difficult times.

The Australian National Imams Council has called the Bondi Beach shooting a “violent terrorist act” and said it constitutes an attack on all Australians.

“Antisemitism, expressed through hate, harassment and violence directed at the Jewish community, has no place in our society.
We unequivocally reject these acts and reaffirm our shared responsibility to uphold respect, safety, and dignity for all communities in Australia.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, which authorities have declared a terrorist attack. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured when two gunmen opened fire on Sunday.

In a video shared on X, Netanyahu accused the Albanese government of failing to protect Australia’s Jewish community and linked the attack to Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood. He said the move had “poured fuel on the antisemitic fire” and accused Albanese of “doing nothing” to curb rising antisemitism

Authorities have identified several victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration and killed at least 15 people, with dozens more injured. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.

Those killed include Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organiser of the event; Dan Elkayam, a French citizen who was in Sydney celebrating Hanukkah; Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine who died while shielding his wife from gunfire; and Reuven Morrison, a businessman originally from the Soviet Union who later built his life in Australia. (Src- NYT)

Among the injured is Arsen Ostrovsky, who recently moved from Israel to Australia and is set to lead the Australia Israel & Jewish Affairs Council. He suffered a minor head injury and is expected to make a full recovery. (Src NYT)

Police say the father involved in the Bondi Beach shooting was a licensed firearms owner, holding a gun licence for around 10 years with six firearms registered in his name, NY Post reported.

Officers recovered six guns from the crime scene and related searches. Forensic teams are conducting ballistic tests to determine whether these weapons were used in the attack.

Police also discovered two improvised explosive devices. Authorities said the devices were basic but active, though neither detonated.

At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured in a shooting at Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach on December 14, authorities said. Police said the attack targeted Australia’s Jewish community and took place on the first day of Hanukkah.

New South Wales police confirmed that two suspects, were taken into custody, with one later dying. Officials said at least 42 people, including a child, were hospitalised following the attack. The incident has been formally declared a terrorist attack.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says the investigation into the shooting has “progressed” overnight. Speaking to reporters, he confirmed police are not looking for any additional gunman.

Lanyon said the two people involved in the shooting were a father and his son, aged 50 and 24. The 50-year-old died at the scene, while the 24-year-old is in hospital in critical condition.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement in which it “strongly condemned” the Bondi Beach “terrorist attack carried out today during Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney, Australia”.

It offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the Australian people, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

“As Turkiye, we reiterate our principled stance against all forms and manifestations of terrorism and our commitment to cooperation in combating this global threat,” the ministry said.

One of the survivors of the Bondi Beach attack, identified as Arsen Ostrovsky, who sustained severe injuries to his head, said it was a miracle he survived.

“I survived October 7…We’ve lived through worse, we’re going to get through worse,” Ostrovsky, who recently moved to Australia from Israel, said.

One French tourist, who had only been in Australia two days, told the ABC about the moment one of the gunmen aimed his weapon at him. “I asked a friend, which is your best beach, [they said] Bondi Beach…I went there because I thought there would be security,” the tourist said.

“My wife and I are appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people attending Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach,” King Charles said in a statement posted on X.

King Charles is the head of state for Australia, although the role is largely ceremonial.