Bondi Beach shooting: 16 killed, including child, in Sydney Hanukkah attack

Sydney: Sixteen people were killed and at least 40 others injured in a shooting at a Jewish festival celebration at Australia's Bondi Beach, police said early Monday in an update of the casualty toll.

"Police can confirm 16 people have died and 40 people remain in hospital following yesterday's shooting at Bondi," police in New South Wales posted on X.

The police statement did not specify whether the toll included one of the shooters, who died in the attack.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting -- which ended with one gunmen killed and another wounded and in custody -- an act of terror, a "targeted attack on Jewish Australians".

Here's what we know:

Emergency services first responded to reports of shots fired at 6:47 pm (0747 GMT) at Bondi Beach, one of the biggest tourist draws in Australia's largest city.

The shooting took place during a "Hanukkah by the Sea" event, which police said was attended by around 1,000 people.

As gunfire erupted, crowds fled in fear from the beach in eastern Sydney and police descended on the area.

One of the alleged shooters was killed, and the second was in a critical condition, police said.

In addition to the 16 killed, emergency responders rushed at least 40 people to local hospitals.

Police declared the shooting a terrorist incident, adding they had found suspected improvised explosive devices near the beach in a vehicle linked to the suspects.

The prime minister hailed ordinary citizens who tackled and disarmed one of the gunman as "heroes".

Leaders from Australia and around the world condemned the attack as an act of antisemitism.

"This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith -- an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation," said Albanese.

A string of antisemitic attacks have spread fear among Jewish communities in Australia following the October 7, 2023, Hamas raid on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned Sunday's shooting in Sydney, calling it a "cruel attack on Jews" and urged the Australian authorities to step up the fight against antisemitism.

Authorities are working to put together an account of what led to the attack, including the background of the alleged gunmen.

Police have asked the public to share any video footage taken in the area during the attack.

Authorities said there were no other reports of any other incidents in Sydney connected to the attack.

The Hebrew word Hanukkah, which means dedication is basically a ‘Festival of Lights’. It is celebrated as a commemoration for a miracle that took place back in 165 BCE when the Greek empire was the ruling power in Jerusalem. They outlawed Jewish practices and destroyed the Jewish Temple and instead put up an altar to Zeus Olympios.

The Jews fought back against this religious persecution and regained control over the temple. They removed the symbols of Zeus and built a new Jewish altar. The reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days is that the temple’s menorah, an important ritual object, had enough oil in it to burn for one day, but it ended up lasting them for eight days.

This is known as the Miracle of Hanukkah and that is why the celebration lasts eight nights.