A terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney left 12 people dead after gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration.

Australia is reeling after a deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach claimed the lives of at least 12 people, including children, and left dozens injured.

The violence erupted on Sunday evening during a public Jewish gathering known as Chanukah by the Sea, held to mark the beginning of the Hanukkah festival. Hundreds were present at the beachfront event when gunfire broke out.

New South Wales Police confirmed that one of the attackers was shot dead by officers at the scene, while a second suspect was arrested and taken into custody in critical condition.

Authorities said at least 29 people were wounded, including two police officers who responded to the emergency. Several victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, with officials warning that the death toll could still rise.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the incident as a terrorist attack, citing the nature of the event and the weapons involved. 

State Premier Chris Minns also confirmed that the gathering was deliberately targeted because of its connection to Sydney’s Jewish community.

Among those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and one of the key organisers of the event. Chabad confirmed he had served the Bondi community for over 18 years and played a major role in outreach activities.

Chabad is an Orthodox Jewish movement with a global presence, widely known for organising large public celebrations during major religious festivals.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as shots rang out. Lachlan Moran, who was nearby at the time, said people dropped their belongings and ran as fear spread across the area. He recalled hearing gunfire intermittently for several minutes as crowds fled.

Emergency services were first alerted around 6:45 p.m. on Campbell Parade. Police later revealed that suspicious items were found near the scene, including an improvised explosive device discovered inside one of the suspects’ vehicles.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed deep shock over the attack, calling it an act of hatred, antisemitism, and terrorism. He said the incident struck at the heart of the nation on what should have been a day of celebration and peace.

The Prime Minister assured Australians that security agencies are working to identify everyone involved and stressed that the country would respond with unity against violence and hate.

Investigations remain ongoing as authorities continue to assess the full scale of the attack and support affected families.