Twelve people, including children, are dead after two gunmen armed with rifles opened fire at Bondi Beach on Sunday afternoon, targeting a Jewish holiday celebration.
Witnesses said two men stepped out of a vehicle on Campbell Parade, near Bondi Pavilion, and opened fire about 6.40pm on Sunday with footage showing blast after blast on the tourist strip. Some witnesses report more than 30 shots.
Video and photos taken by a Daily Mail photographer show a gunman opening fire from an elevated bridge using a large rifle.
A festival, Chanukah by the Sea, advertised as a night of family fun, was taking place, with children attending the event when the gunmen opened fire.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said 12 people were killed and was targeted at the event attendees during a press conference late on Sunday night.
‘This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Channukah,’ he said.
Up to 25 injured people, including two police officers, have been taken to various hospitals in Sydney.
One of the gunmen who opened fire has been confirmed as Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west.
A armed man dressed in black at Bondi Beach on Sunday afternoon
The man takes aim
The armed man was on a bridge with an elevated view of beachgoers
A black and white flag was left on the bonnet of a car at the scene
Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg is currently being raided by police. His family have owned the property for a year.
Akram was shot, arrested and remains in custody, where he is being treated by emergency services.
The second gunman has been shot dead.
NSW Police are urging people to avoid the area, with an exclusion zone in place.
It was also confirmed late on Sunday evening that a number of suspicious items had been found in the vicinity of the incident, including an improvised explosive device.
The items are being examined by specialist officers.
Police are also believed to be raiding an address in Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s west following the attack.
A black and white flag could be seen abandoned on the bonnet of a silver Honda at the scene. It is unknown what the flag means.
Larisa Kleytman was with her husband when he was shot dead while trying to protect her
Emergency workers transport a person on a stretcher
A festival, Chanukah by the Sea, was taking place when the gunmen opened fire
Larisa Kleytman was with her husband when he was shot dead while trying to protect her.
Married for five decades, Mrs Kleytman and husband Alex came from Matraville to celebrate Chanukah.
The couple were in the crowd when Mrs Kletyman heard ‘boom boom’ and the shooting began.
‘I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me, in the back of the head,’ she said.
Mrs Kletyman and her husband came to Australia from Ukraine and have two children and 11 grandchildren.
Englishman Finn was video-calling with family back in London.
‘I could hear fireworks going off – that’s what it sounded like, anyway,’ he said.
‘I told my mum I’d go have a look, almost show her the view, in a way, and the next thing you know I saw a white car, with a guy firing from his car, and I saw an older lady who was killed.’
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Two armed men in black are shown firing rifles near Bondi Pavilion
Police working to assist multiple injured people
Tim Hamilton was with friends in North Bondi when he thought he heard a car backfiring but ‘more violent than that, like a little bit louder’.
‘I stood up and looked over and then I just saw people on the beach running really fast away from that area, like the Bondi Pavilion but the north side of it,’ he told Daily Mail.
He added that people were hiding behind the concrete wall and running into the ocean to try and stay clear of the shooters.
Tim said he did not receive an emergency alert on his phone following the incident.
‘When we were walking home, we saw this guy who was up at Speedo Cafe, which is kind of near the North Bondi grass, and he was on the pavement bleeding.
‘That was quite far away from where the shooters were. So I think one of the bullets must have travelled quite far. There were people helping him.’
The beach was crowded with hundreds of tourists and locals at the end of a 30C summer day.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: ‘We are aware of an active security situation in Bondi.
‘We urge people in the vicinity to follow information from NSW Police.’
Police have evacuated people from the area
People fleeing Bondi Beach
Specialist officers have been called to the scene at Bondi Beach
At least 13 people have been rushed to various hospitals
A member of the public leaves the scene with her child covered in an emergency blanket
Jewish federal MP Julian Leeser said the shooting was a ‘terror attack’.
‘Tonight’s unfolding terror attack at Bondi Beach, occurring on the first night of Chanukah, is a horrifying tragedy,’ he said.
‘For Australians, tonight has turned into one of grief and shock.
‘We must come together, check in on one another, support our Jewish friends, and to offer comfort where it is needed.
‘My heart goes out to those who were in Bondi, spending time with their family and friends, only to be confronted with fear and violence.
‘Our Jewish community, which is known for its courage and stoicism, is shaken tonight.
‘I want to thank the NSW Police officers, paramedics, other first responders and members of the public who moved swiftly to protect lives and secure the area under extremely difficult circumstances.
Bullet casings found near the injured
Two men being held down by police
‘Even in darkness, light endures. Tonight, the values at the heart of Chanukah matter more than ever.’
Police confirmed there have been no reports of any other incidents in Sydney connected to the incident, including Dover Heights, where a similar Chanukah event was expected to be held.
‘Please do NOT share unconfirmed rumours,’ it said.
Families were evacuated from the beach at about 9pm, with parents holding emergency blankets over their children.
An extensive crime scene has been established and police have appealed for anyone with mobile phone vision or dashcam vision relevant to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
More to come…