The death toll from the terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach has risen to 12, including one of the gunmen, with 29 others injured in what authorities have confirmed as a targeted act of antisemitism. The attack unfolded around 6:47 p.m. on December 14, 2025, at Archer Park near the Bondi Pavilion, during the "Chanukah by the Sea" event organized by Chabad of Bondi, which drew over 1,000 attendees to mark the first night of Hanukkah. Two armed assailants emerged from a vehicle and opened fire with rifles on the crowd of families and children, triggering chaos as people fled, some seeking safety in the ocean. A brave bystander tackled and disarmed one shooter, an act praised for likely saving additional lives.

New South Wales Police quickly declared the incident a terrorist act, citing the targeted timing on a Jewish holiday, the weapons involved, and the discovery of improvised explosive devices in a vehicle linked to the attackers. One gunman was killed at the scene, while the second was taken into custody in critical condition. Emergency services transported 29 injured individuals, including two police officers and at least one child, to hospitals across Sydney, with reports describing scenes of extensive bloodshed and prolonged gunfire.

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Among the victims was a Chabad emissary, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, and at least one survivor of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel, who expressed profound shock at experiencing such violence after relocating to Australia for safety. Witnesses recounted a peaceful family gathering turning into horror, with bubbles and music giving way to screams and desperation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as "an act of evil antisemitism" and terrorism that struck at the nation's heart, while NSW Premier Chris Minns described it as designed to target the Jewish community on a day of joy. The incident, Australia's deadliest mass shooting in decades, has heightened concerns over rising antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Gaza conflict escalation, prompting calls for national unity and enhanced security measures.

Investigations continue into the shooters' motives and backgrounds, with counter-terrorism units involved and no ongoing threat reported. International leaders, including from Israel, expressed outrage, viewing the attack as part of a broader surge in global antisemitism, as the community mourns during what should have been a festival of light and hope.

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