Sydney, Dec 14: At least nine people were killed and around a dozen injured after gunmen opened fire during a Jewish holiday gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, Australian authorities said.
New South Wales police said the shooting occurred during an event marking the start of Hanukkah, when people had gathered to light the first candle of the Jewish festival. Police confirmed that two suspects were taken into custody, while Australian media reported that one of the attackers may have been among those killed.
Emergency services rushed multiple victims to nearby hospitals. “Around a dozen people were transported for medical treatment,” a New South Wales Ambulance Service spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “shocking and distressing.”
“Emergency responders are on the ground and working to save lives,” he said in a statement.
A local resident who witnessed the attack said the scene was chaotic. “I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere,” Harry Wilson, 30, told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Police said the investigation was ongoing and that additional security had been deployed across the city.
Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most famous tourist destinations, is typically crowded with locals and visitors, particularly on warm weekend evenings.
