‘They’re Shooting, Get Down’: Chilling Video Shows Gunman Opening Fire At Sydney’s Bondi Beach

Last Updated:December 14, 2025, 16:48 IST

A chilling video showed one of the shooters opening fire during the Hanukkah event, triggering chaos as people in a nearby restaurant dived for cover.

People fleeing Bondi Beach after gunmen opened fire in Sydney on Sunday. (AFP)

Two shooters dressed in black opened fire at a Jewish religious gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in Australia on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 29 others. The incident sent shockwaves across the country, drawing attention to the alarming rise of antisemitic violence.

Chilling footage on social media showed the exact moment one of the shooters opened fire on a bridge at Bondi Beach, triggering chaos as people cowered in a nearby restaurant to save their lives. “They are shooting, get down, get down," one person was heard saying.

Several diners were seen diving for cover amid gunfire, highlighting the terror of the sudden mass shooting at the Hanukkah event, which was attended by 2,000 people. One of the suspects was killed in the retaliatory attack, while another was held by police. The incident highlighted rising targeted violence against Jewish communities.

At least 29 people were wounded, including police officers. Another dramatic footage emerged on social media showing a person bravely tackling and disarming one of the gunmen, before pointing the man’s weapon at him.

In a statement, the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, said: “The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected."

Police Confirm ‘Terrorist Incident’

New South Wales Police confirmed that two individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, with one of the gunmen killed during an exchange of fire with officers. One of the shooters was identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, and counter-terror authorities are probing his ideological motivation.

Later, Australian police officially declared it a “terrorist" incident. “As a result of the circumstances of the incident tonight at 9:36 pm this evening, I declared this to be a terrorist incident," New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told a news conference.

Meanwhile, Israel condemned the shooting at the Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney and criticised the Australian government for failing to tackle rising antisemitism. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called it a “cruel attack on Jews" by “vile terrorists".

Amichai Chikli, Israel Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism, said," A government that normalised boycotts against Jews solely because they are Jewish, normalised marches in which flags of Al-Qaeda, the PLO, and Hamas were openly displayed, and for two years failed to act decisively against serious antisemitic incidents, bears full responsibility for the horrific scenes we witnessed today."

The incident is under global scrutiny as the Jewish community was targeted, and also because mass shootings in Australia are extremely rare. A 1996 massacre in the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, prompted the government to drastically tighten gun laws and made it much more difficult for Australians to acquire firearms.

(with agency inputs)

News world ‘They’re Shooting, Get Down’: Chilling Video Shows Gunman Opening Fire At Sydney’s Bondi Beach

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