Event Overview

On 14 December 2025, a terrorist mass‑shooting took place at Archer Park beside Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The attack occurred during a Hanukkah celebration organized by the Chabad of Bondi, which drew roughly a thousand participants.

Casualties & Injuries

• Deaths: 15 people, including a 10‑year‑old girl.
• Injured: At least 40–42 individuals; 25 remained hospitalized the following day, many of them children.

Perpetrators

The attack was carried out by a father‑son duo:

• Naveed Akram (24 years old) – arrested at the scene and taken to a Sydney hospital with critical injuries.
• His father (identified in some reports as Sajid Akram, 50) – shot dead by police during the confrontation.

Both attackers possessed legally owned firearms; the son held a firearms licence and was an experienced hunter, while the father also held a licence.

Weapons Used

• Four long‑arm weapons seized at the scene, including a bolt‑action rifle and a shotgun.
• Additional firearms recovered during a subsequent police raid in Campsie, Sydney.

Political & International Reaction

• Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to strengthen gun laws and overhaul the National Firearms Agreement, citing a “major failing in the assessment process.”
• New Zealand: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed shock, solidarity, and deployed armed police to protect Jewish sites nationwide.
• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “deeply distressing.”
• United States: President Donald Trump labeled the incident a “purely antisemitic attack.”

Impact on Gun Policy

The Bondi Beach shooting is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. It has reignited debate over Australia’s strict gun‑control regime, prompting calls for:

• Tighter background checks and licensing assessments.
• Limits on the number of firearms an individual may own.
• Potential revisions to the National Firearms Agreement.

Community & Support Response

• The NSW Government activated the Victims Support Scheme, offering counseling, financial assistance, and recognition payments to victims and families.
• Medical services, including Lifeblood teams and the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, operated extended hours to treat the injured.

Broader Significance

The incident highlighted rising antisemitism concerns in Australia and underscored the challenges of monitoring licensed firearm owners despite the country’s historically stringent gun laws. It remains a pivotal moment in Australian contemporary history, shaping future security and legislative discussions.