Hanukkah Celebrations Turn Tragic at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, 11 Killed in Terror Attack

Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney’s Bondi Beach turned tragic on Sunday after two gunmen opened fire on a crowd, killing at least 11 people. One of the suspected attackers was shot dead by security forces, while the other is critically injured, police said.

Authorities also confirmed that explosives were found in a car at Bondi Beach, as investigators examine several suspicious items in and around the site of the attack.

According to Australia’s ABC News, anonymous police sources said one of the two suspects has been identified as Naveed Akram, though it remains unclear whether he is the attacker who was killed or the one who is critically injured. The report added that police later raided Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg following the deadly shooting.

What police have said about the suspects

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said one of the shooters was known to authorities, but stressed that the individual had only minimal prior contact with police.

“The person that we know has very, very little knowledge to the police,” Lanyon was quoted as saying by ABC Australia. “So he’s not someone that we would have automatically been looking at at this time.”

His remarks came amid a wave of online speculation and claims linking the suspect’s nationality and social media activity to the attack. Lanyon urged restraint, saying police would leave no stone unturned in the investigation but would not release details about the gunmen at this stage.

“This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty,” he said at a press conference.

Police also said they are probing the possibility of a third gunman, though this has not yet been confirmed as investigations continue.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess said the agency was examining the identities of the attackers and assessing whether there were others in the community “with similar intent.”

When asked whether any of the suspects were on ASIO watchlists, Burgess said, “One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here.”

Police confirmed that an improvised explosive device was found in a car linked to the deceased attacker and said the incident has been declared a terrorist attack. Several suspicious items discovered in the area are being examined by specialist officers, and an exclusion zone has been established around Bondi Beach.