Sydney, December 15, 2025 – Australia is reeling from its worst mass shooting in nearly three decades after a father-and-son duo allegedly opened fire on a crowded Hanukkah celebration at iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, killing 15 victims and leaving the older gunman dead, for a total death toll of 16.
The attack targeted around 1,000 attendees at the “Chanukah by the Sea” event organized by Chabad of Bondi. Victims included a 10-year-old girl, assistant rabbi Eli Schlanger (a father of five), and a Holocaust survivor, with ages ranging from 10 to 87. Forty people were hospitalized, including two police officers in serious but stable condition.
Police identified the suspects as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998 and held a firearms license with six registered weapons, and his Australian-born 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, now in critical condition. Media reports noted Islamic State flags found in their vehicle, amid a backdrop of rising antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Gaza conflict escalated in 2023.
A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, was hailed a hero for tackling and disarming one gunman despite being shot twice; a fundraiser for him exceeded A$1 million. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it “an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism,” vowing to eradicate antisemitism and announcing plans for tougher gun laws, including a national firearms register and restrictions on licenses.
The beach remained somber Monday, with a makeshift memorial of flowers and flags drawing mourners. World leaders condemned the attack, as Australia grapples with questions over gun ownership and community safety.