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Initial Report: Updated 12:26 GMT, December 14, 2025
Latest Update: 13:11 GMT, December 16, 2025
Bondi Beach terror attack leaves at least 16 dead during Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.
Australian authorities are urgently investigating the gunmen responsible for the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, which has been declared a terrorist attack targeting Australia’s Jewish community.
As of Sunday morning, New South Wales Police have confirmed that at least 16 people were killed and 42 others injured, including two police officers, when gunfire erupted during a Hanukkah by the Sea celebration attended by more than 1,000 people.
The attack is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly 30 years and has prompted heightened security measures nationwide.
Australian authorities have confirmed additional details in the investigation into the Bondi Beach terror attack, including the identities and background of the two suspects believed to be responsible.
Police have identified the younger suspect as Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest. He remains in hospital in critical condition under police guard. The second suspect, a 50-year-old man believed to be his father, was shot by police during the incident and died at the scene.
Officials have stressed that the investigation remains active and complex. Counter-terrorism units are continuing to examine the suspects’ backgrounds, any signs of radicalisation, and whether the attack was carried out entirely independently or involved outside influence.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation as further verified information is released.
NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon has identified a father and son, aged 50 and 24, in connection with the terror attack that left a 10-year-old girl dead after she later died in hospital. Mal Lanyon said at a press conference on Monday: “As part of the investigation, we conducted two search warrants last night, one at Bonnyrigg and a second at Campsie. The 50-year-old male is a licensed firearms holder. He has six firearms licensed to him.”
One of the alleged shooters in the deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney has been identified as Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest, according to a senior law enforcement official cited by ABC News.
According to The Daily Mail, video and photographs taken by its photographer appear to show a gunman opening fire from an elevated bridge overlooking Bondi Beach. The publication reported that the suspect was shot by police and taken to hospital, where he remains under police guard while receiving medical treatment.
NSW Police confirmed that officers searching a property in Bonnyrigg linked to the suspects located suspicious items near the bridge, including an improvised explosive device. The items were described as basic in structure and had been secured and remain under forensic examination.
Australian security agencies have confirmed that one of the suspects had previous contact with intelligence authorities, though officials emphasized that he was not considered an imminent threat at the time of that assessment.
Police have also confirmed that the older suspect was a licensed firearms holder, with several weapons registered in his name. Investigators are examining how the firearms were used and whether existing licensing and storage requirements were breached.
Officials are reviewing the suspects’ recent movements and associations, including any overseas travel, while cautioning that no evidence has yet been presented indicating a wider terror cell or direct operational control by a foreign organisation.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said it is cooperating fully with state and federal police as inquiries continue.
Australian authorities are investigating overseas travel undertaken by the two suspects in the weeks before the Bondi Beach attack, amid growing scrutiny over potential ideological influences.
According to reporting from CNN, the father and son traveled together to the southern Philippines in November, visiting the island of Mindanao — a region long associated with Islamist insurgent activity. Philippine immigration officials confirmed that the pair entered the country on separate passports, with the father traveling on an Indian passport and the son on an Australian passport, before returning to Sydney late last month.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said authorities now believe the attack was motivated by Islamic State ideology, while emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing and that conclusions are based on intelligence gathered after the attack.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said no intelligence alerts were triggered at the time of the travel and rejected suggestions of a systemic intelligence failure, noting that investigators are piecing together information retrospectively.
Authorities also confirmed that items found in a vehicle linked to the suspects included homemade ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices, all of which remain under forensic examination.
While NSW Police have not yet publicly detailed the exact firearms used, investigators confirmed that the attackers were armed with long-gun style weapons.
Images and video footage from the scene showed what appeared to be a pump-action shotgun lying near a tree close to the beach. Several eyewitnesses also reported seeing rifle-style firearms, though police have cautioned that formal identification of the weapons is ongoing.
Specialist counter-terrorism officers continue to examine suspicious items recovered from the surrounding area, and an exclusion zone remains in place.
At 9.36pm on Sunday, the NSW Police Commissioner formally declared the shooting a terrorist incident, citing evidence that the attack was deliberately designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community.
The gunfire erupted during a “Hanukkah by the Sea” gathering marking the first day of the Jewish festival of lights — an event attended by families, children, and community leaders.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the shooting was “an act of evil, antisemitism and terrorism”, calling it a direct attack on Jewish Australians and on the nation’s values.
Police and Australia’s counter-terrorism command are continuing to examine the suspects’ backgrounds and any potential ideological motivations.
As of Sunday afternoon, authorities have not confirmed whether the gunmen were known to security agencies prior to the attack, nor whether they had any formal links to extremist organisations.
Investigators are also assessing whether the attackers acted alone or received assistance, direction, or encouragement from others.
NSW Police have urged the public not to speculate as inquiries continue.
Verified video footage from the scene shows a member of the public tackling and disarming one of the attackers during the shooting.
The bystander wrestled the weapon away and forced the gunman to retreat, an intervention police believe prevented further loss of life.
Prime Minister Albanese praised the individual as a “genuine hero”, saying his actions saved “countless lives” amid the chaos.
Instead of running for safety, he disarmed the active shooter at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Give him an award—he’s a true hero.
The following social media post reflects public reaction and has not been independently verified by authorities.
— Zach “🅂🄲🄷🅄🅉” Schumaker (@ZachSchumaker) December 14, 2025
The shooting has sent shockwaves across Australia and the international community, not only because of the high death toll, but because it occurred at one of the country’s most iconic public locations during a religious celebration.
Bondi Beach is typically crowded with locals and tourists, particularly on warm summer evenings. Authorities say the attack has triggered heightened security around Jewish community events nationwide as Australia confronts the growing threat of extremist violence.
As the investigation continues, authorities have begun confirming the identities of several victims killed during the Hanukkah celebration.
According to CNN and Australian media reports, those who died include children, elderly attendees, religious leaders, and bystanders who attempted to intervene during the attack. Among the victims were a 10-year-old girl attending the celebration with her family, a Holocaust survivor, and two rabbis associated with the Bondi Jewish community.
Officials have emphasized that formal identification and family notifications are ongoing, and have urged media outlets to treat victims’ families with care and respect.
Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest, has been named by multiple media outlets as the surviving suspect in the Bondi Beach attack. He remains in hospital under police guard after being critically injured during the incident.
Police say Akram was one of two armed men who allegedly opened fire near Bondi Beach shortly after 6.40pm on Sunday, December 14, 2025, during a Hanukkah celebration attended by families and children.
Officers responding to reports of gunfire confronted the suspects and exchanged fire. The older man was killed at the scene, while Akram was transported to hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Akram will face terrorism or other criminal charges, citing his medical condition and the ongoing nature of the investigation. Police have also not publicly disclosed whether he held a firearms licence or the extent of his involvement relative to the second suspect.
🕕 Time: About 6.40pm, Sunday 14 December 2025
📍 Location: Bondi Beach, Sydney’s east
🔫 Suspects: Two men, aged 50 and 24
⚰️ Fatalities: 16 people, including a 10-year-old girl
🏥 Injured: More than 40 people, including children
👮 Police injured: Two officers (serious but stable)
🚔 Status: One alleged shooter dead, one in hospital under guard
🧪 Evidence: Three firearms seized
🕵️ Investigation: Joint Counter Terrorism Team
NSW Police have maintained a heavy presence around Bondi Beach as forensic teams continue their work. Authorities have asked for calm and warned against retaliatory actions while investigations continue.
Security has been increased around Jewish schools, synagogues, and Hanukkah events across Australia.
“This is a time for unity, not fear,” police said, adding that there is no current threat to the wider public.
Who were the Bondi Beach shooters?
NSW Police have confirmed the attack involved two men. One suspect was shot dead at the scene, while the second remains in critical condition in hospital under police guard.
ABC Australia reported late Sunday that the younger suspect is Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest.
Was the Bondi Beach shooting a terrorist attack?
Yes. NSW Police formally declared the incident a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.
How many people were killed at Bondi Beach?
At least 16 people have been confirmed dead, with 42 others injured, including two police officers.
Is there still a threat to the public?
Police say there is no ongoing threat, but investigations continue, including inquiries into a possible third offender.
Despite significant developments, authorities say key questions remain unanswered, including:
Whether the suspects received any external encouragement or assistance
The full extent of any ideological motivation
Whether failures occurred in firearm licensing or monitoring systems
Whether any additional individuals had prior knowledge of the attack
Police and counter-terrorism officials have reiterated that no further threat to the public has been identified, but security remains heightened around Jewish community sites nationwide.
The Bondi Beach attack has reignited debate over firearms regulation in Australia.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said his government is determined to introduce what he described as “the toughest gun laws in Australia,” including potential limits on the number and type of firearms an individual can own.
Prime Minister Albanese echoed the call for reform, saying national gun laws are “only as strong as the weakest link,” and confirmed that proposed measures could include stricter licensing requirements, accelerated work on a national firearms register, and tighter controls on eligibility.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
