The terrorist gunmen who opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration on Australia’s world-famous Bondi Beach were allowed to continue their attack for more than 10 minutes — leaving at least 11 victims dead and 29 others wounded, shocking video from the scene reveals.
Footage shows the two terrorists, at least one of whom had a shotgun, firing round after round from a bridge overlooking the family-friendly Chanukah by the Sea 2025 event — which had a petting zoo and a bubble station for the kids.
One of the suspects has been identified as Naveed Akram, according to Australian media.
Harrowing cell phone footage shows that the gunmen went unchallenged for more than 10 minutes — despite cops reportedly being nearby.
One furious Israeli-Australian survivor said that the shooting went on for up to 20 minutes. “Twenty minutes with four policemen there — nobody give fire back. Nothing, like they are froze,” said the witness, who revealed he covered his children with his body while watching the horror unfold. He added: “Four policemen there didn’t give fire back. I don’t understand why.” When asked who they were targeting, he responded, “Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone. It doesn’t matter.”
It wasn’t until a local good Samaritan, a local fruit seller, disarmed one of the terrorists that police appeared to return fire, video shows.
One of the terrorists, dressed all in black, suddenly falls to the ground.
The other terrorist, wearing a black t-shirt and tan shorts, is later seen being surrounded by cops while he screams, “don’t shoot.”
Another video shows a furious survivor in white kicking the suspect in the head while he lay on the ground in handcuffs, before police push him away.
Further footage shows a hero disarming one of the terrorists before pointing his own gun at him.
Video posted on social media captured a man sneaking behind cars before tackling one of the gunmen, ripping the firearm out of his grasp and aiming at the suspect as he crawled away.
“Tonight saw strong acts of personal courage and bravery from individuals in our community, and I think its worth remembering that within all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said at a press conference.
Improvised explosive devices were recovered from the deceased gunman’s vehicle at Bondi Beach, according to police.
The attack was quickly declared an act of terrorism targeting Jewish people, after some 1,000 people had gathered on the beach for the Hanukkah celebration.
“This cowardly act of terrified violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” Minns said.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah,” he said. “What should’ve been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”
Thousands of beachgoers fled as the gunfire rang out over the crowded beach.
The gunmen, wearing dark shirts with one wearing white pants, perched themselves on a pedestrian bridge that overlooked Bondi Park and a road surrounding the area near the iconic coast.
The crowd was gathering near the park’s playground for the festive celebration that started at 5 p.m. local time before the pair launched their attack.
One of the suspected gunmen was killed at the scene while the other was taken into custody in critical condition, officials said.
Officials reportedly raided suspect Akram’s house after the shooting.
Police said that one of the gunmen was on Australia’s Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) watchlist but wasn’t deemed “an immediate threat.”
Police said there was no active threat but cautioned people to stay away from the area as they work to disarm several improvised explosive device or IED, ABC reported.
The devices were found scattered in the area of the shooting and inside the car of the suspected terrorists.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the “vile” attack as a “dark moment of the nation.”
“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,” Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra.
“An act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” he said. “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be, like me, devastated on this attack on our way of life.
“There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it,” Albanese added. “Amidst this vile act of violence and hate, will emerge a moment of national unity, where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish Faith.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the tragedy a “cruel attack on Jews.”
“Our sisters and brothers in Sydney have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah Bondi Beach,” Herzog said, according to the Times of Israel.
“If we were targeted deliberately in this way, it’s something of a scale that none of us could have ever fathomed. It’s a horrific thing,” Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News, adding his media adviser had been wounded in the attack.
“I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere,” witness Harry Wilson told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Video posted on social media captured a man sneaking behind cars before tackling one of the gunmen, ripping the firearm out of his grasp and aiming at the suspect as he crawled away.
“Tonight saw strong acts of personal courage and bravery from individuals in our community, and I think its worth remembering that within all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,” Minns said.
Sunday’s attack is the deadliest shooting in Australia since April 1996, when 35 people were killed and 23 others were wounded during a shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania
