Surge in Islamophobic Incidents in Australia Following Bondi Beach Attack
Following the Bondi beach attack on 14 December 2025, which killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event, Australia witnessed a significant surge in Islamophobic hate incidents. Islamophobia Register Australia recorded 126 incidents in the week immediately after the attack, approximately ten times more than in the preceding two weeks.
Muslim communities experienced verbal abuse and targeted gestures, especially against women wearing hijabs, to the extent that at least one woman chose not to leave her home. These incidents included the desecration of Muslim sites, such as pig heads and animal parts being left at the entrance of a Muslim cemetery. Additionally, a Queensland mosque and a Victorian Islamic school were vandalised during the week following the attack.
Authorities alleged the Bondi attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology, noting that two copies of the Qur'an were found in the Airbnb used by the attacker, Naveed Akram, and his father. Meanwhile, calls for violence against Middle Eastern individuals circulated on social media, notably targeting Cronulla beach, leading to charges against a man.
In response, security measures were intensified at mosques, with Sydney congregations shortening prayer times and the Lakemba mosque increasing its security presence. Muslim leaders strongly condemned the attack and emphasised community resilience, declining to adopt a victimhood stance despite ongoing reports of hate both online and offline.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns visited Masjid Al-Hidayah in Rockdale, committing to confront rhetoric that marginalises Muslims and directing police to tackle extremism and racism. A vigil held after the attack included the lighting of a menorah to symbolize unity.
Overall, the Bondi attack exposed deeper societal and political divisions in Australia, heightening hostility toward Muslim communities across the country.
