What happened, shooters, victims and everything we know, explained

It has been deemed a terrorist attack.

A girl aged 10 who died at Sydney Children’s Hospital is among the 15 victims, and at least 40 people were injured in the attack.

The shooting was allegedly carried out by a father-son pair. The 50-year-old father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the other alleged gunman was arrested and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it is “likely” the younger man will survive his wounds and be charged over the attack.

Police said 14 people died at the scene and 42 people – including four children – were taken to hospitals across Sydney. Two of those injured later died in hospital.

There are conflicting reports of how many people are still receiving treatment for their injuries, but NSW Health says 27 patients remain in hospitals across Sydney.

Six of them are in a critical condition, six are critical but stable, and a further 15 are in a stable condition.

Two of the injured are police officers who are in a serious but stable condition and have undergone surgery.

One of those officers may lose sight in one of their eyes as a result of their injuries.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park told Today this morning extra healthcare staff have been called in to hospitals around Sydney to help relieve the sudden pressure of dozens of wounded patients being taken in.

Here’s what we know about the terror attack so far.

What happened at Bondi Beach

Two men opened fire from a bridge into Archer Park about 6.47pm (AEDT), where the Chanukah by the Sea 2025 festival for children was taking place.

It’s believed there were more than 1000 people at the Jewish festival on what was the first day of Hanukkah, while thousands of others were at and around the beach during a warm summer evening.

Some attendees and beachgoers initially thought the gunshots were fireworks, before thousands of people began to flee the beach, running into the water and nearby businesses and cafes.

The shooting unfolded over nine minutes.

Police were on the scene within five minutes.

Police issued an alert just before 7pm, urging the public to avoid the area due to the “developing incident”.

Police discovered a car which was believed to contain several “improvised explosives” on Campbell Parade shortly after the shooting.

Two “rudimentary” but live explosives were taken from the scene by the bomb squad and disarmed.

What we know about the shooters

The older man is dead, while the younger was taken to hospital in a critical condition under police guard.

He is expected to survive his injuries and face charges over the attack.

“We do have a 24-year-old male in hospital at the moment,” Lanyon said.

“Based on his medical condition, it’s likely that person may face criminal charges.”

The older man was a registered gun licensee who was a member of a gun club and legally owned six long-arm firearms.

That is the same number of guns that have been seized by police following the shooting.

Sajid Akram moved to Australia on a student visa in 1988 before being transferred to a partner visa three years later.

He was on a resident return visa (RRV) at the time of the shooting.

Having been born here, Naveed is an Australian citizen who was investigated by ASIO for six months.

“The son first came to attention in October 2019,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

“He was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence…

“(He was investigated because of) people he was associated with, rather than things that he, himself, had done.”

Police confirmed there were only two shooters after investigating reports of a third gunman.

Today, a major police operation was launched in Campsie at a home which is believed to have been used as short-term accommodation by the attackers.

It’s understood that tactical officers were involved in the operation, as well as the Australian Federal Police.

It follows an earlier raid overnight on a property in Bonnyrigg, believed to be linked to one of the attackers.

Several people in the home were arrested and spoke with police this morning.

Longarm firearms were used.

Police have seized six guns, which are believed to all be legally owned by the older shooter, although this is yet to be officially confirmed.

Hero who disarmed gunman named

He has been identified today as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, from Sydney’s south.

Witness Alexander told 9News he was watching the man as he grabbed the gun and then pointed it at the suspected shooter.

“God bless him,” Alexander said.

“We had a man like that… who put his own life at risk to save some more lives and not to escalate it to the next level.”

What we know about the victims

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was named by both the official X account of Hasidic Jewish movement Chabad, and his cousin Zalman Lewis on Instagram, as one of the 16 people killed in the attack.

The Chabad.org account said Schlanger was an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi.

The youngest victim has been identified as 10-year-old girl Matilda, who was remembered by her language teacher as a “bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her”.

A young French national, Dan Elkayam, has been identified as another victim, as has former police officer and current rugby union volunteer Peter Meagher.

Chabad.org also named two other victims: Reuven Morrison, a member of the Chabad community; and 87-year-old Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor and the oldest victim of the massacre.

A total of 14 people died at the scene, while two others – 10-year-old Matilda and a 40-year-old man – have since died in hospital.

Two police officers are among those shot and injured. Their conditions are serious but stable, and both have undergone surgery.

“Their loved ones will be with them,” Lanyon said.

9News reporter Damian Ryan reported seeing children among the injured at the scene.

“I saw children, I saw an elderly woman,” he said.

“Families there, little children wounded, blood all over them.”

The shooting has been declared a terror attack

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have confirmed the shooters targeted Australia’s Jewish community during a beachside event on the first night of the Hanukkah holiday.

There were more than 1000 people at Archer Park in Bondi at the time.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last night “the evil” perpetrated was “beyond comprehension”.

“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith,” he said.

“An act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.

“An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian and every Australian tonight will be, like me, devastated by this attack on our way of life.

“There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation.

“Let me be clear: we will eradicate it.”

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon declared the shooting a terror attack.

“As a result of the circumstances of the incident, tonight at 9.36pm this evening, I declared this to be a terrorist incident,” Lanyon said about three hours after the shooting.

“Our counter-terrorism command will lead this investigation with investigators from the State Crime Command. No stone will be left unturned.”

Lanyon also called for calm in the community.

“Retribution or acts against any part of any community will not be accepted,” he said.

“We will have a significant policing presence. This is a time for the community to come together.

“This is a time that police will take action to make sure the community feels safe.”