Australia is reeling from one of its deadliest mass shootings in decades after gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, killing at least 11 people and injuring 29 others in what authorities have declared a “targeted antisemitic terrorist attack.” The incident, occurring during the first night of Hanukkah at a Chabad of Bondi event in Archer Park, has been described by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “evil beyond comprehension,” marking the worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that prompted Australia’s strict gun laws. One gunman was killed at the scene, another critically injured and in custody, with police investigating a possible third suspect and removing improvised explosive devices from a nearby car.
The attack unfolded around 6:45 p.m. as hundreds gathered for “Chanukah by the Sea,” a family-friendly menorah lighting. Witnesses reported two gunmen in black clothing firing from a footbridge overlooking the park, unleashing dozens of rounds in a barrage that lasted minutes. “It was a massacre,” one survivor told ABC News. A bystander heroically tackled one shooter, disarming him in footage that’s gone viral. Among the dead: Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Chabad of Bondi’s assistant rabbi and father-of-five; an Israeli national; and others from the Jewish community. Two police officers were wounded responding.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called it “deeply distressing,” while global leaders condemned the antisemitism. “The forces of darkness will never triumph,” said Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Police raided a Bonnyrigg home linked to a suspect known to ASIO but “not an immediate threat.”
The shooting, rare in gun-controlled Australia, has sparked national mourning and calls for unity. Vigils light Bondi; the Jewish community, 150,000 strong, feels targeted amid rising incidents. As investigations continue, one truth endures: a celebration of light became a night of darkness. Australia grieves, but stands resilient.
