Two suspected terrorists who carried out the deadly Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, Australia, were a father and his 24-year-old son, both legally licensed to own multiple firearms under Australia’s stringent gun control regime. Authorities confirmed the pair opened fire on a crowded Hanukkah celebration on December 14, 2025, killing at least 15 people and injuring nearly 40 others before police stopped the assault.
The father, age 50, owned six legally registered firearms, including shotguns and a bolt-action rifle—all of which have now been seized by law enforcement. Despite Australia’s tough post-Port Arthur firearms laws, which severely restrict private gun ownership, both men legally possessed the weapons used in the massacre, raising serious questions about enforcement and oversight.
During the attack at Chanukah by the Sea—a large gathering of families and community members celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights—the shooters fired on the crowd from a pedestrian bridge overlooking Archer Park near Bondi Beach. The father was killed by police at the scene, while his son, identified as Naveed Akram, was critically injured and hospitalized under guard. Police later discovered suspected improvised explosive devices in a vehicle connected to the attackers.
Victims ranged widely in age, from children to the elderly, and included community leaders from the Jewish community. The incident has been widely condemned by Australian officials—including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese—as a targeted act of antisemitic terror. Authorities are investigating the motives and possible broader networks behind the attack, though no additional suspects have been publicly identified.
A heroic bystander, identified locally as Ahmed al-Ahmed, bravely tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen during the chaos, actions credited with saving lives despite his own injuries. Communities both in Australia and internationally have expressed solidarity with victims and families, with mourning ceremonies and heightened security at Jewish events.
This tragedy—Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades—has intensified debate around public safety, antisemitic violence, and the effectiveness of current firearms regulations, even in countries with stringent gun laws.
