A mass shooting broke out at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, leaving at least 12 people dead and dozens more hurt. Local media say the chaos started while people were celebrating Hanukkah at the beach.
At Least 12 Dead in Sydney Mass Shooting During Hanukkah
Several videos from the scene show multiple attackers, and police rushed in fast. Two suspects are now in custody, one of them is believed to be among those killed.
William Doliente Petty, an 18-year-old restaurant worker nearby, described the panic. “The whole shop just stood up and we all just ran into the back exit.
Everyone was pushing, everyone,” he said. It’s clear nobody hesitated once the shots rang out; people just wanted to get away.
The HERO, the legend… this common man saved several lives by snatching the gun from the attacker 🫡#Australia #Sydney #BondiBeach pic.twitter.com/qlC9jtKOzP
— TheGlobalDecoder (@TGD_06) December 14, 2025
Hanukkah Celebration Turns Tragic
Ambulances arrived quickly, taking about a dozen injured people to local hospitals. Aerial footage from Sunday showed a grim scene bodies covered on the sand, police, and medics working to help the wounded.
‘It was pretty terrifying,’ said an eyewitness who recalls seeing bodies at Sydney’s Bondi Beach shooting
A witness at Bondi Beach, Sydney, said Sunday shook him to his core. Ten people died and about a dozen more were hurt when gunmen opened fire during a Jewish holiday gathering, according to Australian officials.
Gil, who didn’t share his last name, tried to put the scene into words: “It was kind of like, I don’t know, fish in a barrel,” he said. “It felt like target practice.”
Cops make quick arrest
Police in New South Wales said they arrested two people. The Australian Broadcasting Corp reported that one of the shooters was among the dead.
Around twelve people ended up in local hospitals after the attack, according to a spokesperson from New South Wales ambulance.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, called the shooting “shocking and distressing.” He said emergency crews are doing everything they can to save lives.
Bondi Beach is usually packed, especially on warm weekends, with both locals and tourists soaking up the sun. This attack has cast a dark shadow over one of the world’s most famous beaches.