A survivor of the deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach said police officers on the scene failed to immediately respond as gunmen opened fire on families gathered for the event, which left at least 15 people dead.
Shmulik Scuri, who attended the celebration with his family, said two attackers began firing from a nearby pedestrian bridge, repeatedly reloading their weapons as people fled in panic. Scuri said the shooting continued for roughly 20 minutes while several officers remained nearby.
“For 20 minutes, they shoot, shoot. Change magazines. And just shoot,” Scuri told reporters. “Twenty minutes, there was four policemen there. Nobody give fire back. Nothing. Like they froze.”
Scuri said the attackers appeared to target anyone in reach. “Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone,” he said. Video footage from the scene shows the gunmen firing continuously from the elevated bridge overlooking the Hanukkah by the Sea 2025 event, which was billed as a family-friendly celebration of the Jewish holiday.
Footage also shows at least one of the attackers reloading both a rifle and a handgun without interruption. Police only returned fire after a local fruit seller intervened, disarming one of the gunmen, according to video and witness accounts. Officers then shot and killed one of the suspects, which it would later be discovered was the father of the other shooter.
Among those killed were a 12-year-old child and British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41. A second suspect was taken into custody in critical condition. Australian media identified one of the attackers as Naveed Akram, whose home was later raided by police.
Authorities said improvised explosive devices were recovered from the deceased gunman’s vehicle parked near the beach. Police also confirmed that one of the attackers had been on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s watchlist, though he was not considered an “immediate threat” prior to the attack.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the shooting, calling it an “evil” act aimed at the Jewish community. “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah,” Minns said. “What should’ve been a night of peace and joy has been shattered.”
Sunday’s shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when 35 people were killed.
Shmulik Scuri, who attended the celebration with his family, said two attackers began firing from a nearby pedestrian bridge, repeatedly reloading their weapons as people fled in panic. Scuri said the shooting continued for roughly 20 minutes while several officers remained nearby.
“For 20 minutes, they shoot, shoot. Change magazines. And just shoot,” Scuri told reporters. “Twenty minutes, there was four policemen there. Nobody give fire back. Nothing. Like they froze.”
Scuri said the attackers appeared to target anyone in reach. “Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone,” he said. Video footage from the scene shows the gunmen firing continuously from the elevated bridge overlooking the Hanukkah by the Sea 2025 event, which was billed as a family-friendly celebration of the Jewish holiday.
Footage also shows at least one of the attackers reloading both a rifle and a handgun without interruption. Police only returned fire after a local fruit seller intervened, disarming one of the gunmen, according to video and witness accounts. Officers then shot and killed one of the suspects, which it would later be discovered was the father of the other shooter.
Among those killed were a 12-year-old child and British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41. A second suspect was taken into custody in critical condition. Australian media identified one of the attackers as Naveed Akram, whose home was later raided by police.
Authorities said improvised explosive devices were recovered from the deceased gunman’s vehicle parked near the beach. Police also confirmed that one of the attackers had been on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s watchlist, though he was not considered an “immediate threat” prior to the attack.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the shooting, calling it an “evil” act aimed at the Jewish community. “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah,” Minns said. “What should’ve been a night of peace and joy has been shattered.”
Sunday’s shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when 35 people were killed.
