A shooting occurred this past weekend on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, which is being described as the deadliest one in Australia since 1966. 

On Sunday, December 16th, 2025, a Hanukkah celebration was taking place on Bondi Beach when gunfire broke out at approximately 6:45 pm local time. What was supposed to be an event celebrating the start of Hanukkah and an annual Jewish festival quickly turned into a site of chaos and fear. Officials have said that at least 15 were killed and at least another 40 have been hospitalized, six of them in critical condition. The victims range from the ages of 10 to 87 years old, and among these was a Holocaust survivor.  

Police have identified the two suspects to be father and son at the ages of 50 and 24. Officers shot the 50-year-old by the name of Sajid Akram at the scene, and the 24-year-old by the name of Naveed Akram remains hospitalized. The father had a firearms licence with six weapons registered to him, and his son has been previously known to security agencies. 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to strengthen gun laws following the shooting. He described the attack as an “act of antisemitism and terrorism,” and stated that there is evidence suggesting it was inspired by a terrorist organization, including ISIS.