Father and son behind horrific Sydney attack on Jewish celebration

International

CHAOS erupted at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening when gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, leaving at least 15 dead and dozens injured in Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years.

Around 1,000 people had gathered on the grassy area of Archer Park when gunfire broke out at approximately 6:47 p.m. local time, sending families and attendees fleeing in panic.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon identified the suspects as a father and son. The 50-year-old father was shot and killed by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Authorities have confirmed no other suspects are being sought.

“This is Australia’s worst mass shooting since nearly three decades ago, when a previous massacre led to the introduction of some of the world’s strictest gun laws,” Lanyon said in a CNN report.

The victims ranged from 10 to 87 years old, including children and community leaders. Among the deceased were Rabbi Eli Schlanger, organizer of the event, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, who died shielding his wife. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that a young French citizen, Dan Elkayam, was also among the victims.

Authorities reported that a car on Campbell Parade contained several improvised explosive devices, which were safely removed by the bomb disposal unit. Police also seized six firearms owned by the father suspect, who had held a firearms license for approximately a decade.

A man who confronted one of the gunmen was praised for his bravery.

In the same article, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said, “That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as “a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy… an act of evil, anti-Semitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.”

The attack has intensified concerns over antisemitism in Australia. Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said the nation’s terror threat level remains “probable,” noting that one of the individuals involved was known to authorities but not considered an immediate threat.

Jewish organizations have described the community as shocked and deeply affected, while cities worldwide, including New York, London, and Berlin, increased security at Hanukkah events. International leaders, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog and French Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, condemned the attack and expressed condolences.(MyTVCebu)