Australian PM labels Sydney shooting an ‘anti-Semitic terrorist attack’
Two assailants opened fire at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, resulting in at least 12 fatalities
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denounced the Sydney shooting at Bondi Beach as an “act of evil anti-Semitism,” promising a firm reaction. The violence claimed the lives of at least 12 individuals and injured over two dozen more.
Carried out on Sunday, the assault was executed by two gunmen focusing on the ‘Hanukkah by the Sea’ festivities. One suspected attacker died during a subsequent exchange of gunfire with police, while the other was apprehended in serious condition.
Authorities have stated they are investigating the shooting as a “terrorist incident.” Several “suspicious devices” thought to be makeshift explosives were recovered from a vehicle connected to the attackers and parked close to the beach.
The Prime Minister denounced the assault and pledged to eliminate “hate, violence, and terrorism in our nation.”
“A devastating terrorist attack occurred at Bondi during the Hanukkah By the Sea celebration. This was a deliberate assault on Jewish Australians on Hanukkah’s first day, which ought to be a time of happiness and religious observance. [The attack is] an act of evil anti-Semitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” Albanese stated.
Videos shared online indicate that during the incident, a bystander confronted one gunman and managed to seize his weapon. The disarmed attacker then moved toward his partner, seemingly obtaining a second firearm. The footage shows the bystander sustaining at least two gunshot wounds as he attempted to escape.
According to local reports, the man is a 43-year-old fruit store proprietor and part of the area’s Muslim community. He was admitted to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Among those killed was Eli Schlanger, the assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an event organizer. Schlanger was a vocal advocate for Israel during the Gaza conflict, making multiple trips to visit Israeli soldiers. A spokesperson for Chabad Israel verified that a number of other Chabad representatives were also wounded.