In addition to the dead, nearly 30 people were injured, including two police officers. At least one of the officers is reported to be in stable condition.
Several explosive devices have also been found in a car near the beach, the New South Wales police announced at a press conference with, among others, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Chanukah, which should be a day of joy," Albanese said.
One suspected shooter is dead and another is critically injured. One of them was known to intelligence agencies, according to ABC News.
"We must not let these evil people so divide us," said Police Chief Mal Lanyon at the press conference.
Protected the children
The beach was packed with families with children when the alarm was raised early Sunday evening. A celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah was taking place near a playground. Bondi is a neighborhood with a strong Jewish presence, with Jewish schools, synagogues and meeting places.
Witnesses recount terrifying minutes.
A man told ABC News he saw people lying in pools of blood on the ground. He described the ten minutes or so of gunfire as “absolute hell on earth.” Another witness told the media outlet how she moved onto a bench to shield her children from the bullets.
Shooter was overpowered
Unconfirmed videos circulating on X show two people dressed in black firing the weapons. A video that quickly went viral shows a private individual overpowering one of the alleged perpetrators.
This man is a true hero, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said at a press conference.
Among the dead is a British-born rabbi, his family confirmed to the BBC .
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, one of the dead is an Israeli citizen. The country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Australian government, which he says warned of anti-Semitic acts in a letter in August.
"Anti-Semitism is a cancerous tumor. It spreads when leaders are silent," Netanyahu said after the attack, according to media in Israel.
There is currently no information about affected Swedes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells TT.
