Australian police say the two gunmen behind the deadly antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney were a father and son, marking the country’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 40 injured when shots were fired Sunday evening at the “Chanukah by the Sea” event near Bondi Beach. One attacker, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police, while his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was wounded and remains hospitalized, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
Authorities said the attackers deliberately targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the shooting as an act of antisemitism and terrorism.
Investigators said Sajid Akram owned a fruit shop and had legally held a gun licence for about 10 years. His son, an Australian-born citizen, had previously been examined by intelligence agencies over suspected extremist links but was not under active investigation at the time of the attack.
Police confirmed the violence unfolded over about 10 minutes as thousands of people were at the iconic beach area. Video footage showed panic as people fled, and witnesses described scenes of chaos and heroism, including a bystander who tackled and disarmed one gunman.
Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87. Chabad confirmed that Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi and one of the event’s organizers, was among those killed.
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemned the attack. Albanese said Australia would “do whatever is necessary” to combat antisemitism and support the Jewish community.
Mass shootings are rare in Australia, which has strict gun control laws. Sunday’s attack was the deadliest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.