Australia to Toughen Gun Laws After Deadly Antisemitic Attack at Bondi Beach

Australia’s leaders have agreed to strengthen gun laws nationwide after a mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach killed 15 people, the country’s deadliest gun attack in decades. Authorities have described the assault as an act of antisemitic terrorism.

Panic erupted on Sunday evening as a father and son opened fire on crowds gathered to mark the start of Hanukkah at the popular beach, which was packed with more than 1,000 people. Among those killed were a 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor and a local rabbi. At least 42 others were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds and other injuries.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an emergency meeting of Australia’s state and territory leaders on Monday, where they agreed “to strengthen gun laws across the nation.” His office said discussions would focus on tightening background checks for firearm owners, barring non-nationals from obtaining gun licences and further restricting the types of weapons that can be legally owned.

Mass shootings have been rare in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed, prompting sweeping gun reforms that included a national buyback scheme, a firearms register and strict limits on semi-automatic weapons. Sunday’s attack has raised urgent questions about how the suspects obtained their firearms, particularly amid reports by public broadcaster ABC that they may have had links to the Daesh group.

‘An Act of Pure Evil’

Police are still investigating the motives behind the attack, though authorities have said it deliberately targeted Jews. Albanese called it “an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores.”

The shooting comes amid heightened fears within Australia’s Jewish community following a rise in antisemitic incidents since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Earlier this year, Canberra accused Iran of orchestrating a wave of antisemitic attacks and expelled Tehran’s ambassador.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, accused the Australian government of “pouring oil on the fire of antisemitism” in the months leading up to the shooting, referring to Canberra’s announcement that it would recognise Palestinian statehood in August. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, condemned the attack.

Witnesses said the gunmen fired from a raised boardwalk onto the beach for around 10 minutes. “We thought it was fireworks,” said Beatrice, who was celebrating her birthday nearby. “We’re just feeling lucky we’re all safe.”

Police shot and killed the 50-year-old father at the scene. His 24-year-old son was arrested and remains under guard in hospital with serious injuries. Australian media identified the suspects as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the father arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998 and later became a permanent resident, while the son was born in Australia.

Hours after the shooting, police discovered a homemade bomb in a nearby car, saying the improvised explosive device was likely planted by the pair.

Courage Amid Chaos

As shots rang out, several bystanders ran toward the danger to help others. Footage showed one man, identified by local media as fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed, grappling with one of the gunmen and wresting a weapon from him. Off-duty lifeguards sprinted across the sand to pull children to safety, while injured victims were carried away on surfboards used as makeshift stretchers.

“The team ran out under fire to try and clear children from the playground while the gunmen were firing,” said Steven Pearce of Surf Life Saving New South Wales.

Rabbi Mendel Kastel said his brother-in-law was among those killed. “We need to hold strong. This is not the Australia that we know. This is not the Australia that we want,” he said.

Police have urged calm amid a surge of misinformation online and reported incidents of reprisal, including pig heads left at a Muslim cemetery in southwestern Sydney.

On Monday evening, mourners gathered near Bondi Beach as a growing flower memorial took shape. Hundreds sang, clapped and embraced one another. Lighting a menorah candle, a rabbi told the crowd: “The only strength we have is if we bring light into the world.”