Father and Son Kill 15 in Bondi Beach Terror Attack During Hanukkah Celebration

Australia is reeling from its worst antisemitic terror attack after a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. The attack occurred around 6:40 PM during the "Chanukah by the Sea" event, which had attracted approximately 1,000 attendees to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah. The gunmen, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, fired indiscriminately at the beachfront festivities for approximately 10 minutes, sending hundreds of people scattering across the sand and into nearby streets. Police responded quickly to the scene, exchanging fire with both attackers. The elder Akram was fatally shot by police at the scene, bringing the total death toll to 16. His son was critically wounded and remains hospitalized under police guard. Two police officers were among those injured and are in serious but stable condition. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 years old, including a 10-year-old girl, London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger whose fifth child was born just two months ago, and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. At least 38 people were hospitalized following the attack, with 25 still receiving treatment as of Monday. Australian intelligence agencies are now facing scrutiny over their handling of the case. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that ASIO had investigated Naveed Akram in 2019 over potential extremist links but concluded he was not "a person of interest," despite two of his associates being jailed. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that two Islamic State flags were found in the gunmen's vehicle, suggesting possible IS connections. The attack has exposed what critics describe as intelligence and security failures. The elder Akram had legally held a gun license for a decade and had amassed six firearms through legal channels, raising questions about Australia's gun licensing system. In response to the tragedy, Albanese announced plans for stricter national gun laws, including limiting the number of firearms a licensed owner can possess. "People's circumstances can change. People can be radicalised over a period of time. Licenses should not be in perpetuity," the Prime Minister stated. The attack comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across Australia since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported a record 1,600 antisemitic incidents in 2025, representing a three-fold increase from previous years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Australian government's handling of rising antisemitism, while King Charles condemned what he called "the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people." The monarch praised "the police, emergency services and members of the public whose heroic actions no doubt prevented even greater horror and tragedy." Thousands of Australians gathered at vigils across the nation on Monday evening, lighting candles in solidarity with the Jewish community. At Bondi Beach itself, people returned to the scene to stand together in defiance of the terror that had struck their community. The Five Eyes intelligence network, comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, will assist in the ongoing investigation to determine whether the attackers were radicalized by extremist ideology. This attack represents Australia's worst gun violence incident in almost 30 years and has shocked a nation that prides itself on its multicultural harmony and strict gun control measures implemented after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.