Australia Mass Shooting: Death Toll Reaches 15, Father-Son Duo Identified as Shooters

The death toll rose to 15 after a father and son opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing people celebrating a Jewish festival and sending shockwaves across Australia in one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings.

Among those killed was a 10-year-old girl who later died in hospital, police said, while the oldest victim was 87. At least 42 others were injured and hospitalised, including two police officers, as panic swept through the packed beachfront on a sunny Sunday.

The shooting unfolded during a Hanukkah celebration that had drawn more than 1,000 people to the world-famous beach. Terrified crowds ran for safety as gunshots rang out, leaving behind shoes, blankets, flasks and other personal items scattered across the sand and grassy areas overlooking the shore.

According to reports, the attackers were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son, both armed with long-barrelled guns. The father was found to have legally owned multiple firearms, while the son remains in critical condition in hospital. Police carried out raids at two properties in Sydney as part of the investigation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that flags would be flown at half-mast nationwide as the country mourned the victims. Visiting Bondi Beach on Monday, he described the attack as an act of antisemitic terrorism that had scarred one of Australia’s most loved public spaces.
“What happened here was an act of pure hatred,” Albanese said, adding that a place known for joy and family gatherings had been “forever changed”.
Security has been tightened across Sydney, with police increasing patrols around Jewish neighbourhoods and places of worship. Authorities have officially declared the shooting a terrorist incident.

The killings drew condemnation from leaders around the world. US President Donald Trump described the attack as “purely antisemitic”, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that rising antisemitism must be confronted decisively.

Survivors described scenes of chaos as people fled in all directions. Some hid in nearby shops for hours, while footage on social media showed a bystander confronting one of the gunmen during the attack.

Members of Australia’s Jewish community said the tragedy has left them shaken and grieving. “This is not the Australia we know,” said Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose relative was among those killed. “But we must stand together.”

The shooting comes amid growing concern over antisemitic attacks in Australia following the war in Gaza. Investigations are ongoing as the nation struggles to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy.

Also Read: Hanukkah Celebration Turns Tragic as Gunmen Kill 11 at Sydney’s Bondi Beach