World leaders have reacted to a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia that killed at least 11 people in what police is now describing as a terror attack targeting the Jewish community coinciding with Hanukkah, one of the most important celebrations.
Police are investigating what they are treating as a terror attack. One gunman is dead, and a second one is in critical condition. Authorities say 29 other people are receiving medical treatment after the shooting. Extraordinary footage showed two men with assault rifles shooting rapid, indiscriminate rounds at a crowd in panic.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters the shooting was "a targeted attack against Jewish Australians", "evil antisemitism terrorism" and an attack "against our way of life" that would not go unpunished. A police investigation is underway.
"There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation," Albanese said Sunday. "Let me clear: we will eradicate it. Amidst this vile attack will emerge a moment of national unity where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish faith at this dark moment for our nation."
European leaders react to 'outrageous' shooting
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the shooting left him "speechless" and called on global leaders to halt the expansion of antisemitic violence.
"This is an attack against our shared values," he posted on social media on Sunday. "We must put a stop to this antisemitism - here in Germany and around the world."
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences, saying France shares “the pain of the Australian people” and would “continue to fight relentlessly against antisemitic hatred, which harms us all, wherever it occurs.”
Calling the attack “deeply distressing,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the victims and their families, writing in a post on X that “together, we must fight the spread of antisemitism.”
Italian premier Giorgia Meloni urged to maintain a "firm resolve to end every form of violence and antisemitism" while Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said the EU is "united against violence, hatred and antisemitism."
Elsewhere, some leaders described the shooting as evidence of the growing spread of antisemitism in Australia and beyond.
Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the attack was the result of “the antisemitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years."
The Australian Jewish Association urged citizens to "please pray for the Australian Jewish community" in a statement published Sunday.
Attack during Hanukkah celebration, chaos following shooting
New South Wales police issued a warning at 7pm local time after reports of an active shooting, urging people to take shelter or avoid Bondi Beach. Eyewitness accounts spoke of panic scenes and chaos as people ran for shelter from gunmen.
Extraordinary footage showed two men carrying assault rifles shooting at people, firing rapid rounds at a crowd in panic. A man was also filmed wrestling with one of the gunmen as he tried to take the rifle away and stop the shooting. The police saluted his brave act.
A Hanukkah celebration, one of the most important events in the Jewish calendar, was taking place at the famed beach where around 1,000 people showed up to participate.
