Australia has been left reeling from a “horrifying” terror attack after two gunmen shot dead 11 people at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.
The Australian authorities declared the incident a terrorist attack, with at least 29 people confirmed injured after the gunmen targeted people attending an event to mark the beginning Hanukkah.
One of the gunmen was fatally shot by police, while the second is in critical condition after being arrested.
The horror began at 6.47pm local time on Sunday when two gunmen – dressed in black – began firing on the crowds gathered at the beach’s park area.
Over a thousand people had gathered for the event called Chanukah by the Sea, which was celebrating the start of the Jewish festival.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said they heard at least 50 gunshots ring out during the chaos that ensued, as hundreds tried to flee the area.
‘Absolute hell on earth’
One witness told ABC News that the mass shooting seemed to last about 10 minutes – describing it as “absolute hell on earth”.
They said the shooters had “mowed down” people at the park area next to the beach.
Beach-goers flee Bondi Beach after the gunmen opened fire (Photo: Mike Ortiz/UGC/AFP)Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, also described the horror that began as he was waiting for his family near the beach.“You heard a few pops, and I freaked out and ran away,” he told the Associated Press. “I sprinted as quickly as I could.
“Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible,” he added.
Eyewitness Marcos Carvalho told the BBC that when people on the beach realised what was happening, “everyone started running”.
He and several others hid behind an ice cream van. After the gunfire stopped, Carvalho said he saw “bodies lying on the floor”.
The suspected attackers on a bridge as they fire into the crowd at Bondi Beach (Photo: Timothy Brant-Coles/UGC/AFP)Video shared on social media showed the two gunmen firing from a bridge overlooking the park area for several minutes.
One clip showed one of the gunmen being shot by police on the bridge, before the second was shot 90 seconds later.
‘Hero’ citizen tackled one of the gunmen
Dramatic footage broadcast on Australian television and shared on social media showed a man tackling and disarming one of the gunmen at an earlier stage of the attack.
The clip showed the man leaping from behind at one of the gunmen, grabbing his weapon before pointing it at him. The gunmen, who had a large bag, was then seen moving away towards the bridge.
A Big Salute to this Real Life Hero. A bystander rushed to the shooter and disarmed him. Saved lives of Many. He deserves all the respect and honour for his unmatched courage and response. #Bondi #sydney #Australia pic.twitter.com/O61QlG2vBQ
— Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) December 14, 2025New South Wales premier Chris Minns declared the man who leap on the gunman “a hero” who had potentially saved more lives being lost.
“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
‘It would have been over 50 shots’
Grace, 30, from Melbourne, and her partner Joel Sargent, 30, told the Associated Press they could see people running away, hiding behind trees and cars from their hotel window.
“People were screaming, and the gun sounded so loud,” Grace said. “It was constant; it would have been over 50 [shots], easily.”
Health workers put a patient into an ambulance after a shooting incident at Bondi Beach (Photo: Saeed Khan/AFP)Shortly after the shooting stopped, police found what they believe to be several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a vehicle in Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach. A bomb disposal unit worked to remove the devices.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” said the state’s Premier, who said a terrorist attack had been declared due to the event targeted and weapons used.
Minns also told a press conference: “At approximately 6.47 this evening, two individuals began firing on crowded a group of families on Bondi Beach at Archer Park.”
He added: “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, what should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying, evil attack.”
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Malcolm Lanyon, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, said 29 people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the actions of Australians who had “run towards danger in order to help others”. He added: “These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives.”
Albanese has condemned the shooting as an “act of evil antisemitism”. He said the attack was a “dark moment for our nation” and pledged to eradicate “hate, violence, and terrorism”.
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