16 killed, 40 hospitalized in terrorist attack in Australia

A mass shooting terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, left 15 victims dead and 40 others hospitalized. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that one of the shooters was also killed during the attack.

According to Axios, Sunday’s mass shooting, which is the deadliest attack in Australia since 1996, has been labeled a terrorist attack that targeted Jewish Australians. The outlet noted that the terrorist attack took place at roughly 6:45 p.m. (local time) on Sunday as approximately 1,000 people were participating in a “Chanukah by the Sea” event.

Fox News reported that New South Wales Police Force Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters on Monday that the terrorist attack was carried out by a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. According to CNN, the suspects were identified as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. The 50-year-old was killed by police on Sunday, while the 24-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition.

CNN reported that one of the attackers was tackled by a bystander identified as Ahmed el Ahmed, who was able to wrestle a firearm away from the attacker. The outlet noted that Ahmed has been labeled a “genuine hero” who saved “the lives of countless other people” on Sunday.

According to Fox News, Sajid Akram was a licensed gun owner who had six registered firearms. The outlet noted that some of the firearms were recovered at the scene of the attack, while the other firearms were recovered after law enforcement officials executed two search warrants. Fox News reported that officials also recovered two improvised explosive devices during the execution of the search warrants.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the New South Wales Police Force confirmed that 16 people were killed on Sunday, including the shooter, and that 40 people remained hospitalized.

In a video message on social media, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the terror attack as a “targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy.”

“The Prime Minister today convened a meeting of National Cabinet following the evil anti-Semitic terrorist attack directed at members of the Jewish community celebrating Chanukah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach,” the prime minister’s office stated in a press release.

The prime minister's office added, “The National Cabinet pledged to eradicate anti-Semitism, hate, violence and terrorism and emphasised Australia’s commitment to national coordination on countering terrorism and violent extremism, social cohesion, resourcing and rhetoric to ensure community safety.”

Albanese also noted that Australia’s leaders agreed to implement additional gun control measures in light of Sunday’s terrorist attack.