Bondi Beach Shooting Death Toll Rises to 16 Including Father Gunman as Terror Investigation Underway

The death toll from the Bondi Beach mass shooting has risen to 16 people, including one of the gunmen, marking Australia's deadliest shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania. New South Wales Police have identified the two gunmen as a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son.

The attack occurred on Sunday evening during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, with more than 1,000 people in attendance at the event marking the first night of the Jewish holiday. Police are treating the incident as a targeted terror attack deliberately designed to strike the Jewish community.

The 50-year-old gunman was shot dead at the scene by police officers. The 24-year-old son remains in hospital in critical condition under police guard. The 50-year-old was a licensed firearms holder with six firearms registered to him, and police believe all six weapons found at Bondi Beach were used in the attack.

The victims' ages ranged from 10 to 87 years old. British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a father of five, was identified as one of those killed in the shooting. At least four children were among those transported to hospital, with some described as being "very seriously" injured. A total of 42 people remain hospitalised following the attack.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, a civilian who was filmed wrestling a firearm away from one of the gunmen, was shot twice during the incident and is recovering in hospital. His actions during the assault potentially prevented additional casualties. Photo/X

Two active improvised explosive devices were discovered at the scene and have been rendered safe by police officers. Two properties in the western Sydney suburbs of Campsie and Bonnyrigg were searched overnight as part of the investigation.

NSW Ambulance crews responded to the emergency within 10 minutes of the initial call at 6:45pm. First responders transported 24 patients in the initial response wave and located 14 people deceased at the scene. Two additional people died in hospital following treatment.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that no warning signs had indicated either of the men were planning the attack. The investigation is examining the motives behind the shooting. Police have not disclosed specifics regarding reports that a black ISIS flag was found at the scene.

In response to the attack, New South Wales Police deployed 328 officers to provide enhanced security and support to the Jewish community across Sydney. Officers are maintaining a highly visible presence at places of worship throughout the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an act of pure evil and terrorism on Australian shores, characterising it as an act of antisemitism. Albanese pledged to dedicate every resource required to respond to the attack and vowed to eradicate antisemitism in Australian society.

NSW Premier Chris Minns urged the community to rally around those affected by the shooting and emphasised that ordinary Australians stand in solidarity with the targeted Jewish community. The Bondi Beach area and surrounding roads remain closed as investigators continue working through the crime scene.

This attack represents a significant moment in Australian history, as mass shootings of this scale are exceptionally rare in the country. Following the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, Australia implemented some of the world's strictest gun control measures, including bans on semi-automatic and pump-action firearms, a 28-day waiting period for purchases, and a government buyback scheme that removed 650,000 firearms from circulation.