Shooting at Jewish Event in Australia Leaves 15 Dead, Numerous Injured
At least 15 individuals were killed and several others suffered injuries when two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish gathering in the Australian city of Sydney on Sunday.
Authorities reported that police have fatally shot one gunman, while the second suspect has been apprehended and remains in critical condition.
At least 29 individuals, among them two police officers, have sustained injuries, according to Mal Lanyon, the Police Commissioner of New South Wales, the state where Sydney serves as the capital.
Authorities have discovered what they suspect to be multiple improvised explosive devices inside a vehicle associated with the deceased suspect, according to a statement from Lanyon.
Authorities have stated that police are actively investigating the shooting incident, while emergency services continue to stay on high alert in the region.
Witnesses to the shooting depicted a chaotic scene as gunmen unleashed a barrage of gunfire on crowds assembled at Bondi Beach. According to one eyewitness account, approximately 40 to 50 shots were fired.
A mass shooting event occurred amidst a large gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during an event named Chanukah by the Sea, which marked the beginning of the Jewish festival.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incidents at Bondi as “shocking and distressing,” emphasizing that acts of hate, violence, and terrorism have no place within the country.
Authorities are actively engaged in efforts to identify all individuals connected to the attack.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has denounced the attack in a statement on social media, describing it as “heinous.” He also expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community in response to the incident.
He expressed his solidarity with the global Jewish community as they mark the first day of Hanukkah.
Israeli officials have vocally criticized the Australian government, accusing it of disregarding warnings concerning what they described as antisemitic threats.
In a speech delivered in al-Quds, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the incident as a “very cruel attack on Jews who gathered to light the first candle of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach.”
He urged Australia to combat the significant surge of antisemitism affecting the nation.
Tel Aviv has extended limited condolences to the Jewish community in Australia.
Australia, a nation with a population of 28 million, is home to approximately 117,000 individuals of Jewish descent, as reported by official statistics.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condemnation of the shooting through an English message on X, stating that France “extends its thoughts to the victims, the injured, and their loved ones.”
Australia has witnessed significant public outcry regarding Israel’s actions over the past two years against the Palestinian population, sparking large-scale demonstrations in various cities throughout the nation since October 2023.
Protesters have expressed outrage over the civilian casualties, the devastation of homes, and the regime’s continued war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Social media platforms and local sources reveal growing public outrage concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Protesters are calling on the Australian government to denounce what they describe as genocide by the Israeli regime and to cease arms sales to Tel Aviv.
