Terror Attack at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration: At Least 15 Dead in Australia's Deadliest Mass Shooting Since 1996

Sydney, Australia – December 14, 2025 -- A father-and-son duo carried out a terrorist attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 40 others in what authorities have declared an antisemitic act of terrorism.

The attack targeted the "Chanukah by the Sea" event organized by Chabad of Bondi, where hundreds of families had gathered in Archer Park near the Bondi Pavilion to mark the first night of Hanukkah. Gunfire erupted around 6:45 p.m. local time, with the shooters firing from an elevated position, sending panicked crowds fleeing across the beach.

New South Wales Police confirmed the shooters were a 50-year-old father, who was fatally shot by police at the scene, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, who sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalized under police guard. Law enforcement sources identified Akram as one of the alleged gunmen, a resident of Sydney's south-west suburb of Bonnyrigg. One of the shooters was previously known to authorities but not considered an immediate threat, with no prior related offenses.

Among the victims confirmed dead are:

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a 41-year-old London-born assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event, who leaves behind a wife and young children.

Dan Elkayam, a French citizen.

Security camera footage of the shooter, Naveed Akeem

A 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man who died in hospital.

Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, who attended with his family.

Reuven Morrison, a member of the Chabad community.

Victims ranged in age from children to the elderly, and at least two police officers were among the injured. Improvised explosive devices were discovered at the scene and neutralized by bomb squads.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as a "targeted attack on Jewish Australians" and "an act of evil antisemitism," stating that Bondi Beach had been "forever tarnished." New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called it a "horrifying evil attack" on a night meant for joy and celebration.

The attack marks Australia's deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and its most severe terrorist incident. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the violence as purely antisemitic.

Investigations are ongoing, with police recovering licensed firearms linked to the suspects. The national terrorism threat level remains at "probable."

This tragedy comes amid heightened concerns over antisemitic incidents in Australia since October 2023. The Jewish community and the nation mourn as details continue to emerge.