Australian authorities are treating the deadly Bondi Beach shooting as a targeted act of terrorism after a public Hanukkah celebration was attacked in Sydney, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens more. Investigators say the attackers, identified as Pakistani nationals Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, deliberately targeted the Jewish community during a religious event, raising renewed concerns over antisemitic violence and extremist radicalisation in Australia.
The attack unfolded on December 14, 2025, during a “Chanukah by the Sea” gathering at Bondi Beach, where Jewish families had assembled to mark the start of Hanukkah, one of the most significant festivals in the Jewish calendar. Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire erupted, with victims ranging in age from a 10-year-old child to an 87-year-old elderly person.
What Is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, is an eight-day Jewish festival often referred to as the “Festival of Lights.” It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE following the Maccabees’ victory over the Syrian Greek rulers who had desecrated it.
Central to Hanukkah is the miracle of the oil. According to Jewish tradition, a small amount of ritually pure oil, enough to last just one day, miraculously burned for eight days in the Temple’s menorah, allowing time for more oil to be prepared. The holiday is observed by lighting a special nine-branched menorah, or hanukkiah, with one additional candle lit on each night of the festival.
Other traditions include eating fried foods such as latkes and sufganiyot, playing the dreidel game, and giving gifts or Hanukkah gelt to children. In many countries, Hanukkah celebrations are increasingly held in public spaces as expressions of religious freedom and cultural identity.
Why Was Celebration Targeted?
Police and intelligence officials say the Bondi Beach attack was motivated by extremist ideology and antisemitism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the shooting as “an act of evil antisemitism and terrorism that struck at the heart of our nation,” emphasising that the Jewish community had been deliberately targeted.
Investigators recovered two Islamic State (IS) flags and explosive materials from a vehicle linked to the attackers during follow-up raids, strengthening suspicions of terrorist inspiration. Authorities have confirmed that Naveed Akram had previously been on the radar of Australia’s intelligence agencies, though he was not assessed as an imminent threat at the time.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram remains in critical condition under police guard. The Bondi Beach attack is among the deadliest mass-casualty incidents in Australia in decades.