An active shooter situation at Sydney’s Bondi Beach prompted law enforcement deployment Sunday evening just after 7 p.m. , with reports indicating it happened at or near the event held by the Jewish community held to mark the start of Hanukkah, local media reported in Australia. One attacker was arrested, and another one shot dead, with local media reporting at least three fatalities, although it it was unclear if this included the attackers. The event marking the beginning of the Jewish holiday was branded as Hanukkah by the Sea, run by the local Jewish chapter of Chabad. Chabad confirmed a shalich, whose job is to bring Jews closer to their community and faith, was among the dead.
It was not immediately clear how many of the attendees were hurt. Police officer, child among the injured. Police said they were trying to see if a nearby bridge where the shooters were placed was also boobytrapped with explosives.
Video: Member of the public overpowers terrorist / Credit: Social media
Officials labeled the incident as “developing” through social platforms while advising residents to evacuate the vicinity, ABC News indicated. According to local radio, there has been at least one casualty, with people hiding in nearby buildings and restaurants. Some reports indicate 20 shots were fired.
“I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere,” witness tells local paper. NSW Police say two people are in police custody after active shooters fire dozens of shots. Incident took place during public lighting dubbed “Hanukkah by the Sea.”
Breaking: Video shows the moment a shooting broke out on Bondi Beach in Australia. The shooting occurred during a Chabad Hannukah event. pic.twitter.com/jR2w76YQpT
— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) December 14, 2025
NSW Police responded to active shooter reports at Bondi Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Authorities urged public to avoid area as emergency services deploy. According to some reports, this took place during public lighting of first candle of the Jewish festival of lights, which begins Sunday night.
Video: The site of the shooting in Bondi Beach / Credit: Social media
“Anyone at the scene should take shelter. Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand,” authorities stated, according to ABC News.
“In lock down at the back. Just hear sirens and hear bangs but not sure if it’s more gun shots,” Twitter user Lauri Geordie told Israel Hayom. “Stuck in a restaurant in Bondi Beach now hiding,” she wrote when the initial attack began.
MASS SHOOTING AT BONDI BEACH
LIVE PHOTOS pic.twitter.com/pxx9WV4dhF
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) December 14, 2025
Emergency personnel have also deployed to the site, the outlet confirmed. “Attention media – please share our message for members of the public to avoid Bondi Beach area as the police operation continues. We are still asking people in the area to take shelter until we can determine what is happening. We have media officer en route to scene, more information when confirmed,” the New South Wales Police Force said on X. “NSW Police respond to active shooter reports at Bondi Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Authorities urge public to avoid area as emergency services deploy. According to some reports, this took place during public lighting of first candle of the Jewish festival of lights,” it continued.
A Jewish prayer shawl recovered in the area, according to reports X
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration confirmed knowledge of an “active security situation” in Bondi. “We urge people in the vicinity to follow information from NSW Police,” a government representative declared.
Video: The arrest of the suspects at Bondi Beach / Credit: Screenshot
Elizabeth Mealey, who was having dinner in the Icebergs restaurant, was quoted on ABC. “We thought it was fireworks, but it wasn’t — it was something much worse,” she told the ABC.”People started running right up the beach. It was panic, and the panic spread to Icebergs, and people are standing around still not knowing what’s going on, so it’s scary. It felt like it took a long time to hear a siren, we’ve got a helicopter coming in now and an ambulance is arriving. It’s pandemonium and we really don’t know what’s happening.”
The Hanukkah by the Sea event invitation
She continued, describing the mayhem as people tried to escape:”We did hear what sounded like another type of gunfire eventually, which we were hoping and assuming was police shooting back, and after that went a bit quieter but still kept up. At this point, we are assuming it’s over, but no one really knows,” she said. “It’s terrifying”.
