Twelve people have been killed and dozens injured in a terror attack at Bondi Beach after two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday evening. Shots were fired shortly after 6.40pm on Campbell Parade near Bondi Pavilion, where families had gathered for a public festival. Witnesses reported more than 30 rounds as crowds fled the area, with one attacker firing from an elevated bridge.
Police have identified one of the gunmen as 24-year-old Naveed Akram from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west. He was shot and detained by officers and remains in custody under medical care. His home was raided on Sunday evening as part of the investigation. New South Wales Police said that one of the fatalities is believed to be one of the attackers, while the second gunman was shot dead at the scene. Two police officers are among the injured, along with a child.
Australian media have confirmed that 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a father of two and fruit shop owner from Sutherland, tackled one of the gunmen during the attack. Relatives say he had no firearms experience and was simply walking past when he intervened. He was shot twice during the struggle and remains in hospital. Witnesses reported he managed to seize the weapon, preventing further loss of life before officers arrived.
Police later discovered improvised explosive devices near the bridge where one gunman had positioned himself. Bomb squad teams secured the devices and removed them in an armoured vehicle. The area has been established as a crime scene and will remain under investigation overnight. Officers are also examining whether a third person may have been involved, after a black and white flag was found on the bonnet of a nearby vehicle.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as a targeted act of terrorism against Jewish Australians marking the first night of Hanukkah. NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed the death toll and said specialist teams continue to work across the Bondi area. Police are reviewing ballistic evidence, digital material and witness accounts as part of a wider counter-terrorism inquiry.