Terror Attack Targets Hanukkah Celebration at Bondi Beach: 12 Dead
A gunman opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach, killing 12 civilians in what officials and Israeli leaders have confirmed as a targeted "terrorist attack."
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WISE NEWS PRESS / SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — DEC. 14, 2025
A terror attack targeting a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach has left 12 people dead and at least 29 others injured, sending shockwaves through the local community and prompting international condemnation.
Australian authorities confirmed that the assault was a targeted "terrorist act" aimed directly at the Jewish community gathering for the holiday. Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued a statement condemning the violence, describing it as an attack on "brothers and sisters" celebrating their faith.
Attack details and casualties
Video footage circulating on social media shows two assailants opening fire with long-barreled weapons on the crowd gathered for the event. Police responded rapidly to the scene, killing one attacker and capturing the second, who remains in critical condition under custody.
Officials reported 12 civilian fatalities. Among the 29 injured, at least two are police officers. Residents have been urged to avoid the area as security operations continue.
Targeted assault on Jewish community
In a press briefing, police explicitly categorized the incident as a terror attack, noting that the gunmen specifically targeted the Jewish gathering. "This was a direct attack on the community celebrating Hanukkah," officials stated.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog reacted swiftly, stating, "Our brothers and sisters in Sydney were attacked by vile terrorists while gathering for Hanukkah at Bondi Beach." Security has been heightened across the city as investigations into the attackers' identities and networks proceed.
