Robert Gregory, president of the Jewish Association of Australia said it was “tragic but quite expected” when someone shot at the Bondi beach of Sydney during a Hanukkah event.
According to reports from authorities, during the incident that took place at Sydney Bondi Beach on Sunday, twelve individuals met their fate, nine of whom were civilians and the other was supposedly a part of the attackers. Officers were rest assured that not just one but two suspected gunmen are apprehended, the second one being seriously ill.
In regards to the shooting incident, the data shows that eleven people were victims, out of these two were police officers. The officials reported as well that several items of suspicion were located in the area and right now are being examined by a team of specialists; at this point, the exclusion zone is still in place. Ainslie Chandler, Sydney Bureau Chief, has the news.
While the report states that the gathering was for Jewish Chanukah by the Sea, offering the people the opportunity to mark the start of the Jewish festival, the location was a popular grassy area north of the beach, where the incident occurred.
A man was seen carrying a gun and opened fire on the people on Sunday, creating disorder and run riot in the center of one of the most visited places in Australia. ABC, the national broadcaster, stated that one of the gunmen was among the deceased, but also mentioned the presence of at least 12 people injured during the incident.
Robert Gregory, president of the Jewish Association of Australia said it was “tragic but quite expected” when someone shot at the Bondi beach of Sydney during a Hanukkah event. “The Albanese government was ruined by countless warnings and it did not manage to provide adequate protection to the Jewish community,” he told AFP.
British Tourist said He Saw Two Shooters Dressed in Black
Timothy Brant-Coles, a British citizen who was vacationing in the place, said to AFP that he spied “two shooters in black” after the gunshots were heard at the famous tourist destination. Gunfire erupted, and the two shooters dressed in black were armed with semi-automatic rifles,” Timothy Brant-Coles recounted the scene to AFP, noting that several individuals looked to be injured from gunfire.
X platform hosted the videos that presented the sad scenario of visitors at the beach and in a nearby park running away in different directions when gunshots erupted and police sirens sounded. A certain video, which is now circulating on the net, had a glimpse of a black-shirted man with a big weapon before a man in a white T-shirt tackled him and wrestled the weapon out of his hands.
The second video showed two men on a small pedestrian bridge beneath uniformed police, one being resuscitated. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the footage.
2 arrested, Govt. urge Public to be distant from affected Area
According to the Australian media, two persons were apprehended after the shooting incident occurred. Emergency services were dispatched to the place and paramedics along with police were engaged in the work all night to ensure security of the area, as well as, help the victims. The authorities had asked the people to refrain from going to that place since probing was going on.
Israeli President Condemned the Attack as Anti Jewish Violence
The shooting was rebuked by the Israeli President Isaac Herzog by saying that it was a “cruel attack on Jews” and that he pressed the Australian authorities to take serious actions against antisemitism. “Right now, in Sydney, Australia, our sisters and brothers are being attacked by disgusting terrorists who conduct a very cruel attack on Jews,” Herzog said during his speech in Jerusalem.
He urged Australia to “battle against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society”.
Nevertheless, the government officials of Australia have not confirmed it as a fact that the attack was specifically aimed at the Jewish community.
PM Albanese offers Condolences to those affected in the Tragedy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia termed the shooting as “incredible and heartbreaking.”
“The police and emergency response personnel are present and are doing everything they can to help. I am thinking of all those who are touched by this tragedy,”
Albanese mentioned in the statement that his office circulated. “I strongly recommend those who are around to stay updated with the information provided by (New South Wales) Police,” he continued.
Incident revives Australia’s Deadliest 2014 Terror Attack memories
The Bondi Beach shooting took place close to the period of 11 years after the Lindt Cafe siege incident was held by a single gunman in Sydney who took down a total of 18 people. After a long 16-hour standoff, two hostages and the shooter were the casualties, which is one of the most shocking terrorist incidents in the history of Australia.
