Eleven killed after gunmen target Jewish festival in deadliest Australia shooting in decades
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Eleven people have been killed and 29 others taken to hospital, including a child, after a shooting targeting the Jewish community at Bondi Beach, New South Wales Police have confirmed.
The attack occurred during an event marking the start of Hanukkah, which was attended by more than 1,000 people. Police said it is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Officers responding to the incident confronted two suspects. One gunman was shot dead at the scene, while a second suspect is in critical condition in hospital. Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among those killed, his family told the BBC. Tributes have begun to pour in, with community leaders describing him as a respected and compassionate figure.
Eyewitnesses spoke of scenes of panic and confusion. One man said he lost “a very dear friend” who had recently become a father again, while another described the sound of gunshots continuing for “an eternity”.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said mass shootings are rare in Australia, making the incident “all the more shocking”. An investigation into the attack is ongoing.
