Deadly Antisemitic Terror Attack Kills at Least 12 at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration in Sydney

Image: Jihad Watch

A gunman who carried out a deadly shooting during a Hanukkah celebration on Australia’s Bondi Beach has been identified as Naveed Akram. The attack, which struck Sydney’s Jewish community, left at least 12 people dead and 29 others injured, prompting authorities to officially classify the incident as an act of terrorism.

Akram, 24, was shot and killed by police at the scene, while another suspected attacker has been taken into custody. Security operations remain ongoing amid concerns that a third individual may also have been involved. According to official records, Akram’s driver’s licence listed his residential address as Bonnyrigg, a suburb in Sydney’s southwest.

Video footage circulating online shows two men dressed in black opening fire with rifles from a bridge overlooking a nearby car park at approximately 6:40 pm local time on Sunday. The elevated position gave the attackers a clear line of sight toward the beach, where families and community members had gathered for the Hanukkah celebrations. In one clip, a gunman is seen being briefly tackled by a bystander before managing to break free and retreat to retrieve another weapon.

Police later confirmed the discovery of an improvised explosive device inside a vehicle connected to the deceased suspect. Authorities also disclosed that they had prior knowledge of at least one of the attackers before the incident, raising questions about intelligence and preventive measures.

Further footage broadcast by Sky News has provided a clearer view of the attackers in action. In the videos, Akram can be seen gesturing, ducking, and repeatedly firing a rifle from the bridge. Another gunman is visible closer to the celebration area, standing with alarming composure as he aims and fires at beach-goers who scramble to escape, shooting at close range.

The second, older attacker was described as wearing light-coloured trousers, a black polo shirt, and a backpack. After being confronted and tackled by a member of the public, he retreated back toward the bridge, where he reportedly put on a pair of glasses and retrieved an additional weapon before continuing his actions.

Among the injured was a man who was struck in the back by shotgun pellets. He later recounted that he had been attending the Hanukkah festival with his wife and children when the shooting erupted, turning what was meant to be a peaceful religious celebration into a scene of terror and devastation.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)