Officials said the shooting was "designed to target" the Jewish community. An event to mark the first day of Hanukkah was taking place at Bondi Beach.
People gather at the scene of a reported shooting at Bondi Beach today. Mark Baker / AP
The terror attack at Bondi Beach is “abhorrent,” Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said, sending her “deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones tonight.”
“Terrorism, antisemitism, violence and hate have no place in Australia,” she said.
“We hope for the full recovery of all injured and we stand in solidarity with the Australian Jewish community.”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the “heinous deadly attack” on Jewish families gathered in Sydney.
“My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide on this first day of Hannukah, a festival celebrating the miracle of peace and light vanquishing darkness,” he posted on X.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the country will eradicate “hate, violence and terrorism,” following the attack at Bondi Beach today.
“As prime minister, I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community, we stand with you,” he said at a press conference, calling the attack an “act of evil antisemitism.”
“We embrace you and we reaffirm tonight that you have every right to be proud of who you are and what you believe,” he added.
Albanese said that a national security committee had been convened as a matter of urgency this evening.
“There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear we will eradicate it,” he said.
Dramatic video verified by NBC News appears to show the alleged shooters and the moment that one of the gunmen is disarmed.
A man in civilian clothes crouching behind a car tackles one of the shooters from behind, before taking his weapon from him. The shooter flees, before the man in the white places the weapon beside a palm tree.
A shoot-out continues as a gunman on a bridge fires shot after shot toward people trying to stop them.
Premier Chris Minns has paid tribute to the man who disarmed the shooter.
“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery,” he said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack on Bondi Beach as a “very cruel attack on Jews,” as officials said the attack was targeting the Jewish community.
“The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives,” he said at an event recognizing the achievements of immigrants to Israel.
“We send our warmest strength from Jerusalem,” he added.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has designated the event a terrorist incident.
NSW Police Commissioner Lanyon could not confirm the age ranges of victims, but said he does believe a child was transported to hospital.
“This is a really fluid situation,” he said.
New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon has designated the attack at Bondi Beach a terrorist incident.
There will be a “significant investigation” led by counter-terrorism, he told a press conference, adding that “no stone will be left unturned.”
He said that 29 people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers.
There were over 1,000 people in attendance tonight celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, Lanyon added.
An event to mark the first day of the Jewish celebration Hanukkah was taking place on Bondi Beach.
“When I asked for calm, that is really important,” he said. “This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty. So police are responding to make sure that all of the community is safe.”
At least 11 people have been killed during the attack on Bondi Beach, according to NSW Premier Chris Minns.
“This cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see, and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” he said at a press conference.
One of the alleged shooters is also reported to have been killed.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”
The Australian National Imams Council has condemned the shooting, urging Australians to “stand together in unity, compassion, and solidarity, rejecting violence in all its forms.”
“The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), the Council of Imams NSW and the Australian Muslim community unequivocally condemn the horrific shootings in Bondi,” it said in a statement posted on X.
“These acts of violence and crimes have no place in our society,” the statement added. “Those responsible must be held fully accountable and face the full force of the law.”
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those who witnessed or were affected by this deeply traumatic attack,” it continued.
With 10 people confirmed dead by police, the attack at Bondi Beach becomes the deadliest shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur attack in 1996, when 35 people were killed and dozens more were injured.
A lone gunman had opened fire at the site on the island of Tasmania, an attack that prompted the government to introduce some of the world’s strictest gun control measures, after which the number of gun attacks dropped drastically.
Ten people have died in the shooting, including a man believed to be one of the shooters, New South Wales Police said in a statement. The second alleged shooter is in critical condition, the statement added.
“At this time, a further 11 people are reported to be injured, two of which are police officers,” it said. “A number of suspicious items located in the vicinity are being examined by specialist officers and an exclusion zone is in place.”
The statement said that an extensive crime scene had been established and there were no reports of any other incidents in Sydney connected to the incident.
Australia’s opposition leader Sussan Ley says “hateful violence” has struck Bondi, and that the nation was “in deep mourning tonight.”
“The loss of life from this attack is significant and I join with the Prime Minister in urging all Australians to follow official advice from police and relevant authorities,” she said in a statement posted on X, adding that the attack occurred as “our Jewish community came together at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration.”
“This was a celebration of peace and hope for the future, severed by hate,” the statement added.
An independent Australian lawmaker whose electorate includes Bondi Beach has called events at Bondi Beach “horrifying.”
“This is not the Australia that we know and love,” Allegra Spender posted on X. “I know our community will come together but this is devastating to all of us.”
Footage from Bondi Beach verified by NBC News shows hundreds of people fleeing the area, many of them carrying towels, beach bags and even surfboards, as sirens blare in the background and what appears to be the sound of gunshots firing in the distance.
An event to mark the first day of the Jewish celebration Hanukkah was taking place on Bondi Beach, according to a digital flyer for an event named Chanuka by the Sea 2025.
The flyer shows the event was scheduled to take place near the beach’s children’s playground from 5 p.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) on Sunday.
The event, organized by Jewish center Chabad of Bondi, lists live entertainment, music, games, and activities “for all ages.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the scenes at Bondi Beach “shocking and distressing,” adding that police and emergency responders were on the ground “working to save lives.”
“My thoughts are with every person affected,” he said in a statement posted on X. “I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW police.”
NSW Police have confirmed there are no incidents elsewhere, including at Dover Heights, noting there has been some misinformation spreading.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is “aware of an active security situation in Bondi,” the leader’s spokesperson said in a statement shared by Reuters.
“We urge people in the vicinity to follow information from NSW Police,” the statement added.
It is unclear if anyone has been injured.
Two people have been taken into custody as New South Wales Police responded to an incident at Australia’s famous Bondi Beach, with local media reporting shots fired at the popular tourist destination.
“The police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area,” NSW Police said on X.
“Anyone at the scene should take shelter,” it said in an earlier post. “Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand.”
National broadcaster ABC is reporting that police are responding to reports of an active shooter at the site, while the Sydney Morning Herald is citing reports of “multiple shots fired” at Bondi.
Australian broadcaster 7News reports that locals reported hearing shots fired and seeing hundreds fleeing the beach.
NBC News