10 dead in Sydney’s Bondi Beach mass shooting

Twelve people are dead, including one of the shooters, after a mass shooting in Australia at Sydney’s Bondi Beach around 7 pm on Sunday (local time), Australian authorities have confirmed. The incident triggered panic at the popular seaside location and led to a massive emergency response by police and medical services.

Police said they received reports of multiple gunshots being fired in the area early on Sunday evening. As people ran for cover, emergency services rushed to the scene amid fears of an active shooter situation. New South Wales Police later confirmed that a total of 10 people had lost their lives, one of whom was the shooter. Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger confirmed as one of the victims in the mass shooting.

Suspects taken into custody, operation still ongoing

Shortly before 8 pm, Australian police confirmed that two people had been taken into custody after reports of gunshots and several casualties. Authorities have not yet clarified whether the second person in custody was directly involved in the shooting or detained for questioning. The situation was brought under control after a large-scale police operation involving armed officers.

The incident triggered a major police response, with authorities asking people to stay away from the area as investigations continue.

New South Wales Police confirmed that the operation was still in progress, asking people to stay away from Bondi Beach. “The police operation is still in progress, and we continue to urge people to stay away from Bondi Beach,” NSW Police wrote on X.

As per reports by local media, there were people injured in the shooting incident. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, eyewitnesses depicted a chaotic situation, while TV networks Sky News and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation showed video footage of injured persons lying on the ground with ambulances rushing to the area.

Harry Wilson, a 30-year-old local who witnessed the incident, described a horrifying scene. “I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere,” he told the Herald, adding that panic spread quickly as people tried to flee the area. 

Shooting occurred during a Jewish festival

The Jewish community leaders confirmed that the shooting occurred during a gathering to commemorate Hanukkah, a Jewish festival that witnessed the lighting of the Menorah candles at sundown. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News that the event was originally meant to be a celebration. “This was the Jewish community coming together to celebrate a happy occasion,” he said. “If this were a deliberate attack, it’s beyond anything we could have imagined.” He also confirmed that his media adviser was injured in the attack.

Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, told the Post, “The Jewish community is in shock. There were 2,000 members of the Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah, lighting the first candle together at Bondi Beach. We are at high alert.”

Some of the clips that were shared on social media showed people running on Bondi Beach as gunfire could be heard in the background. A video showed police officers holding down two men on a pedestrian bridge as other police officers were trying to resuscitate one of the men.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office also issued a statement acknowledging the situation. “We are aware of an active security incident in Bondi and urge people in the area to follow instructions from NSW Police,” a spokesperson said.

The attack comes nearly 11 years after the Lindt Café hostage crisis in Sydney, where two hostages and the gunman were killed following a long standoff, a tragedy still fresh in public memory.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here