Mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening left 15 people, including one individual believed to be one of the gunman, were killed after dozens of gunshots were fired in a crowded public area, New South Wales police confirmed.
Authorities said 14 civilians and one suspected shooter died in the incident. A second alleged gunman was taken into custody in critical condition. At least 11 other people were injured, including two police officers who responded to the scene.
Naveed Akram, the surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act, the New South Wales police say.
Akram, 24, was critically injured during the incident. His father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in an exchange of fire with police at the scene.
The shooting occurred during a Jewish community event being held at the beach to mark the beginning of Hanukkah. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the attack appeared intentional and targeted.
“I don’t believe this was random,” Ryvchin said. “This was very deliberate and very targeted.”
Two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah party in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.
— AF Post (@AFpost) December 14, 2025
Two people were taken into police custody shortly after the event, local law enforcement confirmed.
At least 10 casualties have been reported thus far.
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NSW Police said officers were first called to Campbell Parade at approximately 6:45 p.m. after receiving multiple reports of shots fired. An exclusion zone was immediately established as police, emergency services, and specialist units flooded the area.
Among the charges against Akram are 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, as well as one charge of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.
Akram had his first hearing from his hospital bedside, the local New South Wales court said.
The case has been adjourned until April 2026, the court added.
Earlier on Wednesday, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said they were waiting for medication to wear off before formally questioning Akram.
“For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening,” Lanyon said.
As of Wednesday evening local time, 17 people are still being treated in hospitals across Sydney. One is in critical condition, with four others described as critical but stable.
Police have designated the attack a terrorist incident, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it appears to have been “motivated by Islamic State” group ideology.
On Tuesday, it emerged that the father and son had travelled to the Philippines in November.
The Philippine immigration bureau told the BBC that they were in the country from 1 November to 28 November. Their final destination was the southern city of Davao, an immigration spokesperson said.
Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines using an Australian passport, while his father Sajid used an Indian passport, border authorities in Manila.
Sajid Akram was originally from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, but had “limited contact” with his family there, a police official from the Indian state of Telangana said.
More than 40 ambulance units were deployed, including helicopters, intensive care paramedics, and specialist response teams.
One of the officers, named as 22-year-old Jack Hibbert, has lost vision in one eye and faces a “long and challenging recovery”, his family said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, thousands gathered to mourn British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, at the first funeral to be held for victims of the shooting.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not present. Asked on ABC NewsRadio about his absence, he said: “I would attend anything that I’m invited to. These are funerals that are taking place to farewell people’s loved ones.”
The Jewish community has criticised Albanese for not taking enough action on antisemitism – he defended himself against those accusations, telling ABC NewsRadio he had taken a series of measures including appointing the country’s first antisemitism envoy, toughening hate speech laws and increasing funding for social cohesion projects and Jewish institutions.
Speaking at Rabbi Schlanger’s funeral, Rabbi Levi Wolff described his death as an “unspeakable loss” for the community.
“Eli was ripped away from us, doing what he loved best,” he said.
“Spreading love and joy and caring for his people with endless self-sacrifice in his life and in his death, he towered above as one of the highest and holiest souls.”
Rabbi Schlanger had helped organise Sunday’s Hanukkah event.
Funerals for the other victims are expected to happen over the coming days, including for the youngest victim, Matilda, on Thursday.