Bondi Beach Shooting During Chanukah Festival Kills 15, Injures 27
On 15 December 2025, during the Chanukah by the Sea festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney, an attack was carried out by two alleged gunmen. The tragic event resulted in at least 15 people killed and 27 others injured and hospitalized the following day.
Survivor Jessica Rozen searched for her three-year-old son and protected another child by lying on top of a girl. Her son was fortunately with his grandmother at the playground during the incident.
Video footage showed a shooter on a footbridge, where bystander Ahmed al Ahmed bravely tackled and wrestled the weapon away from the attacker. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the courage of Ahmed and the first responders, describing their actions as representative of the best of Australia.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan also commended the heroism of the first responders, noting that some paramedics were members of the Jewish community. Rabbi Yossi Friedman visited Bondi Beach to mourn the victims, with Eli Schlanger, a London-born rabbi, identified as the first victim of the attack.
Support helplines available in Australia include Beyond Blue, Lifeline, and Griefline. Additional UK and international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
