12 dead, 29 injured in Sydney’s Bondi Beach shooting

New Delhi, Dec 14: At least 12 people, including one gunman, have died after a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Police said.

BBC reported that another gunman has been taken into Police custody and is injured and hospitalised.

Police said at least 29 other people were injured in the incident, while two police officers were also shot and wounded.

An exclusion zone has been set up and specialised equipment deployed to clear possible improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The death toll from the shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach has risen to 12, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said, describing the attack as one “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community.”

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon formally declared the shooting a “terrorist incident, saying more than 1,000 people were present at the site, many of them attending an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

Lanyon said 29 people have been taken to the hospital, including a child.

Two of the injured are police officers who are in “serious, verging on critical” condition and undergoing surgery.

Of the two gunmen involved, one is dead while the other is in a serious condition in hospital. Police are not releasing details about the attackers at this stage, but Lanyon said investigators are examining whether a third gunman may have been involved.

He also confirmed that an improvised explosive device was found in a car linked to the deceased attacker.

A bomb disposal unit has been deployed at the scene on Campbell Parade in Bondi.

Premier Minns paid tribute to a man who was filmed confronting one of the attackers, wrestling him to the ground and taking his gun away, calling his actions an act of extraordinary bravery as emergency services continue their investigation.

The shooting took place as an event marking the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah was being held at Bondi Beach.

A digital flyer for the event, titled Chanuka by the Sea 2025, showed it was scheduled near the beach’s children’s playground from 5 pm local time.

Organised by the Jewish centre Chabad of Bondi, the event was set to feature live entertainment and activities for all ages.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the scenes in Bondi as “shocking and distressing”.

He said he had spoken to the Australian Federal Police Commissioner and the New South Wales Premier, adding that authorities were working closely with NSW Police.

“Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives,” he said, promising further updates as more information is confirmed.