By By Micheal Chukwuebuka
AUSTRALIAN authorities have confirmed that a father and son carried out a deadly shooting during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, an attack that has left 16 people dead and dozens more injured, in what officials have described as a targeted antisemitic act.
Stonix News learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday evening at a Hanukkah gathering attended by approximately 1,000 people in a small park near Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most popular public spaces. According to police, the attackers opened fire shortly after the event was underway, triggering chaos as families, children and elderly attendees fled across the sand and into nearby streets in search of safety.
Casualties and Victims
Fifteen people were killed at the scene, while the 50-year-old father, identified by local media as Sajid Akram, was shot and killed by police during the response, bringing the total death toll to 16. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, survived the incident and remains in critical condition under police guard in hospital.
Authorities confirmed that at least 40 people were injured, including two police officers who sustained gunshot wounds and are in serious but stable condition. The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
Among those killed was Reuven Morrison, a 62-year-old Soviet-born member of Australia’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. His daughter, Sheina Gutnick, described him as a hero who attempted to stop the attackers by throwing a brick at one of the gunmen to protect others.
“If there was one way for him to go on this earth, it would be fighting a terrorist,” Gutnick said. “He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved the most.”
Timeline of the Attack
Witnesses told investigators that the shooting lasted for approximately 10 minutes, during which gunfire echoed through the beachfront area. Videos circulating on social media show panicked crowds running for cover as police and emergency services rushed to the scene.
Officers confronted the attackers and fatally shot the father, while the son was subdued and later transported to hospital. The area was immediately locked down, with Bondi Beach and surrounding streets sealed off as a major crime scene.
Weapons and Licensing
Police revealed that the father had held a firearms licence since 2015 and legally owned six firearms. Although authorities have not released full technical details, footage from the scene suggests the attackers used a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun. Investigators are examining how the weapons were transported to the event and whether any warning signs were missed prior to the attack.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the father arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, while the son is an Australian-born citizen.
Heroic Intervention
One of the most widely praised acts during the attack was carried out by Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen, potentially saving numerous lives. He was shot twice during the struggle and later underwent surgery.
Ahmed is currently recovering in hospital, and a public fundraising campaign in his support has raised more than A$350,000 (US$233,000). Political leaders and community figures have hailed his actions as heroic and selfless.
Official Response and Investigation
Police have described the shooting as a targeted antisemitic attack, and counter-terrorism units are leading the ongoing investigation. Authorities are examining the attackers’ backgrounds, possible radicalisation, and whether they acted alone or had external support.
Prime Minister and state leaders have condemned the violence, describing it as an attack not only on the Jewish community but on Australia’s multicultural values. Increased police patrols have been deployed around synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres nationwide as a precaution.
Community Impact
The Jewish community in Sydney and across Australia has been left in shock and mourning. Vigils have been held near Bondi Beach and at synagogues, with thousands paying tribute to the victims and honouring those who acted bravely during the attack.
As the investigation continues, authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and to support affected families and survivors during what officials have described as one of the darkest days in Australia’s recent history.
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