Hanukkah beach attack in Sydney kills at least 10, authorities say
Illustrative photo: A terrorist attack occurred on the beach in Sydney during Hanukkah (GettyImages)
A shooting broke out during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, leaving at least ten people dead and 13 hospitalized, according to Sky News and the Times of Israel.
Police are conducting a large-scale operation, and parts of the area have been cordoned off. About 2,000 members of Sydney’s Jewish community were attending the event, which included a planned speech by local opposition leader Kelly Sloan. Witnesses said attendees suddenly began fleeing as gunfire erupted during a speech by a community leader.
Local media report that one suspected shooter was wounded by police, and two others connected to the incident have been detained. Authorities said the operation is ongoing, while residents reported hearing roughly 50 shots.
"I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere," said eyewitness Harry Wilson, a 30-year-old local resident.
An Israeli living in Australia, who was heading to the Hanukkah event, described the scene as chaotic. This holiday is mostly for parents and young children, she said. They were pushed north along the coast.
A spokesperson for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that authorities have been informed about the incident.
"I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police," he said.
The New South Wales Police also warned anyone near the scene to take immediate shelter and avoid approaching the operation zone.
Earlier, a separate shooting occurred in the US at Brown University. According to police, the incident happened on Saturday, December 14, near the Barus & Holley engineering building.
