[Chungraon = Associate Editor-in-Chief Dongseop David Yeo] On December 14, 2025, a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach left 15 victims dead. The gunmen opened fire from a small bridge near a car park at the northern end of the beach, close to Campbell Parade. Video footage also showed the gunmen shooting toward a local Hanukkah event in a nearby parkland area.
The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87 and included a young girl and at least one Holocaust survivor. Many of those killed were members of or connected to the Jewish community, and officials have described the incident as an antisemitic terrorist attack targeting Jewish people in Australia.
NSW Health said more than 40 people were taken to local hospitals after the shooting. Later updates said more than two dozen were still receiving treatment, with several reported to be in critical condition.
The toll may have been even worse if Ahmed al Ahmed, a local shop owner, had not stepped in. He tackled one of the gunmen and managed to wrestle the rifle away.
Footage from the scene showed him stepping in, along with other bystanders trying to help as the attack unfolded. Investigators also continued reviewing video from the area as part of the investigation.
Later accounts from families and witnesses gave a clearer picture of the impact the attack had on the community.
Among those killed were Alexander Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who reportedly tried to protect his wife, and Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the rabbis involved in organizing the Hanukkah event.
Details about the gunmen were released after the attack. Australian media identified the two gunmen as Sajid Akram (50) and his son Naveed Akram (24).
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Sajid Akram first came to Australia on a student visa in 1998. He was later found to hold a firearms licence, with authorities linking him to six registered firearms during the investigation.
Political leaders in Australia and around the world responded quickly. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said national leaders would review existing gun laws and consider stricter regulations at the next National Cabinet meeting.
The proposals included limits on the number of firearms an individual could own or be licensed to hold, as well as additional reviews of licence qualifications over time.
/Dongseop David Yeo
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