A deadly shooting unfolded at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, leaving at least 12 people dead — among them children and a police officer — and injuring at least 29 others, after armed attackers targeted a Jewish Hanukkah gathering. Australian authorities have formally classified the incident as a terrorist attack.

The violence erupted during “Chanukah by the Sea,” a public event organised to mark the beginning of Hanukkah. Hundreds of attendees were present at Bondi Beach Park, close to a children’s play area, when gunfire suddenly broke out, triggering panic and chaos.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the assault was deliberately aimed at the Jewish community. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that the nature of the target and the weapons used led investigators to declare it an act of terrorism.

Suspects identified, one killed at scene

Police identified one of the attackers as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, with raids underway at his residence in Sydney’s Bonnyrigg suburb. One gunman was shot dead by police during the confrontation, while the second was wounded, taken into custody, and remains in critical condition.

Two police officers were also injured during the response. Authorities cautioned that the death toll could change, as several victims were still receiving emergency treatment.

Nation reacts with shock

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, describing it as a devastating act of hatred on a day meant for celebration. Calling it a targeted assault on Jewish Australians, he said such violence had no place in the country. The Prime Minister convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee shortly after the incident.

Investigators believe the attack may have been planned well in advance. Security agencies are also probing reports of possible improvised explosive devices, including an unverified tip about a suspicious object beneath a nearby pedestrian bridge.

Graphic scenes captured on camera

Television footage and videos shared online showed harrowing moments from the attack. One clip captured a civilian overpowering a gunman, wresting away his weapon and holding him at bay. Other visuals showed police administering CPR, crowds fleeing as shots rang out, and officers detaining armed suspects.

Witnesses said multiple firearms were used, and the attackers appeared to be carrying ammunition belts.

Eyewitnesses recount terror

Residents and attendees described scenes of fear and devastation. One local said he saw numerous people lying injured on the ground amid heavy bleeding. A parent recounted how her children, who had been swimming nearby, were warned to run and later hid inside a stranger’s home for safety.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, confirmed the shooting occurred during a Hanukkah event and called it a horrific act, adding that a member of his organisation was among the wounded.

Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most visited tourist destinations, is typically crowded with locals and visitors. Mass shootings are extremely rare in the country, particularly since strict gun control laws were enacted following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

As of now, one attacker is dead, another is in custody, and police continue to comb the area for potential threats while the nation grapples with one of its deadliest acts of violence in decades.