Sydney – Australian police have confirmed that a father and son were responsible for the deadly shooting at a Jewish community festival near Sydney’s Bondi Beach, an attack that claimed 15 lives and left several others injured, marking one of the deadliest acts of violence in the country in recent years.
- According to law enforcement officials, the shooting took place during a public Jewish festival attended by families, children and community members. What began as a peaceful religious gathering quickly descended into chaos as gunfire erupted, forcing people to flee for safety while emergency services rushed to the scene.
- Police said investigations have established that the two attackers were closely related and had acted together in carrying out the assault. One of the suspects was killed at the scene during the police response, while the second later died from injuries sustained, authorities confirmed.
- Senior police officials stated that both individuals were previously known to authorities, and investigators are now examining their background, potential motives and any signs of radicalisation. Counter-terrorism units remain involved as the attack is being treated as religiously motivated, though officials said there is no immediate indication of additional suspects.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the attack, calling it an act of “hatred and brutality” that has shaken the nation. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting all communities, particularly religious and minority groups.
- Jewish community leaders described the incident as a devastating blow, urging unity and resilience while calling for stronger security measures at religious and cultural events. In response, authorities have stepped up security across major cities, particularly around synagogues, schools and community centres.
- The tragedy has reignited a national conversation about extremism, hate crimes and public safety, with renewed calls for coordinated efforts to prevent such attacks and address the root causes of violent radicalisation.
As Australia mourns the victims, police have vowed to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to determine how the attack was planned and whether warning signs were missed, while vigils and memorials continue across the country.
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