Today's News: Terrorist Attack on Jewish Community at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
A father and son carried out a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, targeting a Hanukkah celebration. The attack resulted in the deaths of 15 victims and one of the gunmen.
Photo: Matthew Abbott for The New York Times
Overview
Date: December 14-15, 2025
Summary: On December 14, 2025, a father and son carried out a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, targeting a Hanukkah celebration. The attack resulted in the deaths of 15 victims and one of the gunmen, with dozens more injured. Australian authorities declared it an act of terror and antisemitism, leading to widespread condemnation from world leaders and increased security measures globally for Jewish communities. The incident, Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, has sparked discussions on gun control and the rising tide of antisemitism.
Sources
The New York Times - What We Know About the Shooting at Bondi Beach
CNN - At least 15 killed in shooting that targeted Australia’s Jewish community at Bondi Beach
The Wall Street Journal - Terrorist Attack Targets Jews at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Killing 15
Key Points
The incident occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, targeting a Hanukkah celebration.
Authorities consistently identified the attack as a terrorist act and an act of antisemitism.
The perpetrators were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son; the father was killed by police, and the son was critically injured.
The attack resulted in 15 victims killed and dozens injured and hospitalized.
The shooting is Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, highlighting the rarity of such events due to Australia’s strict gun laws.
There is widespread condemnation from Australian and international leaders, expressing solidarity with the Jewish community.
The incident has prompted increased security measures for Jewish communities and Hanukkah events worldwide.
Concerns about rising antisemitism in Australia and globally, particularly since October 7, 2023, are a central theme.
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in a vehicle linked to the suspects or at their property and were rendered safe.
Unique Highlights
The Sydney Morning Herald details queues at Lifeblood centers across Sydney amid calls for urgent blood donations and describes the North Bondi RSL club acting as a refuge where veterans with combat experience and doctors helped wounded victims. The article also notes the head of the Koran college Naveed Akram once attended distanced himself from the alleged shooter and reported receiving death threats and police assistance.
The New York Times provides specific witness accounts and identifies victims Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Reuven Morrison, and Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who died shielding his wife.
CNN reports on former US President Joe Biden calling the attack “shocking and unconscionable” and urging unity against antisemitism. It features Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory discussing “surging” antisemitism and the “chilling impact” of extreme security measures on Jewish communities. The article lists multiple Muslim nations (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Qatar) that condemned the attack and includes ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt’s statement that antisemitic incidents are up nearly 500% in Australia since October 7. It also highlights Israel’s National Security Council issuing a renewed travel alert for Israelis abroad, warning of potential “copycat” attacks.
The Washington Post reports on NSW Premier Chris Minns stating he will consider introducing a proposal to strengthen Australia’s gun laws. It details “Operation Shelter,” launched by NSW Police, which involves deploying over 300 police officers to Jewish communities. The article mentions a joint statement from all 25 Jewish members of the U.S. House condemning the attack and calling on global leaders to better confront antisemitism. It also cites a weapons analyst who identified two sporting-style shotguns and one rifle as the weapons used, based on video analysis.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Mike Burgess, head of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, stated one of the suspects was known to the agency but had not been considered an immediate threat. The article also mentions recent antisemitic incidents in Australia, including a firebombed Melbourne synagogue and a blaze at a Sydney kosher-food business, for which Australian authorities blamed Iran and expelled the Iranian ambassador. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is quoted as attributing the shootings to an “anti-Semitic rampage” in Australia.
Fox News specifies the addresses where search warrants were executed (Campsie and Bonnyrigg) and notes that police commissioner Mal Lanyon stated there was “very little knowledge of either of these men by the authorities” despite the father having a gun license for 10 years without incident. The article also quotes Israeli President Isaac Herzog calling on the Australian government to “seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism.”
Contrasting Details
There is a minor discrepancy in how the death toll is presented. Otherwise, all articles are in agreement on the basic facts of the story.
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