A mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left at least 12 people dead has been declared a terrorist incident.

Naveed Akram, 24, is confirmed to be one of the two shooters who opened fire on a Jewish Hanukah event shortly before 7pm on Sunday.

One of the gunmen were shot and killed by police, while another gunman was shot before being taken into custody in a critical condition.

Addressing the media late on Sunday night, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said bomb disposal were on-site of a vehicle on Campbell Pde which officers believed contained several improvised explosive devices.

The device has since been secured and removed.

Police are also probing whether there was a third offender after the authorisation of special powers under the Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act.

Mr Lanyon confirmed the incident had been designated a terrorist incident.

The investigation will be led by the counter-terrorism command with investigators from the State Crime Command.

“This disgraceful act will not go unpunished,” Mr Lanyon said.

The Commissioner said he wanted to “make sure that there is no retribution”.

He also confirmed police were aware of one of the suspected gunmen.

“The person that we know has very, very little knowledge to the police, so he’s not someone that we would have automatically been looking at at this time,” he said.

Visibly shaken, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the attack was “designed to target the Jewish community”.

“This cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, called the massacre “evil anti-Semitism” and “an attack on our way of life”.

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

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

Mr Albanese, who was also shaken, said it was a “dark moment for our nation”.

“As Prime Minister, I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community, we stand with you,” he said.

“My fellow Australians, I say tonight that there are nights that tear at our nation’s soul.

“In this moment of darkness, we must be each other’s light, hold on to the true character of the country that we love.

“Australia is stronger than the cowards who attacked innocent people today, Australia is braver than those who seek to make us afraid.

“Australia will never submit to division, violence, or hatred, we will see justice done, and we will come through this together.”

ASIO chief Mike Burgess confirmed Australia’s threat rating would remain at probable.

“Probable means there is a 50 per cent chance of an act of terror, and unfortunately, we’ve seen that horrific act occurred tonight in Australia,” he said.

He said the threat level was constantly being assessed.

AFP Acting Deputy Commissioner Nigel Ryan confirmed the AFP would assist ASIO and NSW Police in the investigation.

First victims identified

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad emissary based in Sydney, has been identified as one of the at least 11 people killed by the two gunmen.

On December 11, he posted to his Facebook a link to the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi beach.

“3 day to go!!!!!!!!!!” he wrote.

“BOOK BOOK BOOK for your free donut.”

At least 12 people have been killed, including a police officer and one of the shooters.

One gunman was shot dead and another was shot and is in custody in a critical condition.

At least 29 people have been taken to hospitals across Sydney, including one to Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Among the injured are two police officers.

A crime scene has been established and an exclusion zone remained in-place shortly before 9pm, with police confirming no other incidents in Sydney were connected to the shooting.

Police said a number of suspicious items had been located in the vicinity and were being examined by specialist officers.

Officers are also looking into how the gunmen got to Bondi Beach and where their car might be.

Shooters home swamped by police

Police cordoned off the street in Sydney’s southwest where the alleged shooters lives.

Dozens of people have converged on the street, trying to edge closer to the house.

When approached by news.com.au, one police officer said “it’s not safe you need to go back”.

Scores of young men gathered near the corner of a neighbouring street discussing the horrific events that unfolded more than 50km away.

Some local resident stopped from getting to their homes were heard pleading with police to be let through but were instead told to get back.

“There are people absolutely everywhere,” one resident said.

“They reckon it’s the Bondi shooter so I get it but I’m just trying to get home,” the man said.

Several men ordered to move away from the area became aggressive, threatening to “break the handcuffs” of a female officer.

Neighbours stood on their front lawns watching as police officers turned cars away from the usually busy thoroughfare.

Footage captures last stand, brave act

Drone footage from the scene appeared to capture the last stand of the two gunmen from the bridge behind Bondi park.

One of the gunmen, dressed in a black shirt, takes cover behind the fence with the other man lays motionless on the ground.

The gunman appears to be firing towards a man behind a white van before appearing to be shot and falling to the ground.

The shooters appeared to both be wearing ammo belts, with at least one of the weapons being scooped.

The firearms appeared to be semiautomatic with magazines seen on the ground.

At least three firearms appeared to be present during the shooting.

Separate video uploaded to X showed the brave moment a bystander rushed one of the gunmen while he was firing on others.

The man has since been identified as Ahmed el Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit shop owner from the Sutherland Shire.

In the video, Mr Ahmed can be seen crouching behind a car before running up to one of the shooters, grabbing him from behind, and wrestling the shotgun away from him.

The bystander aims the weapon back at the gunman, who paces away from him.

The second gunman can be seen in the video continuing to fire from the bridge.

Mr Ahmed’s cousin, Mustafa, told 7News outside hospital the 43-year-old was shot twice and was due to undergo surgery tonight.

The father-of-two did not have any experience with guns but was walking past when he decided to step in.

“He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” Mustafa said.

“We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 per cent.”

Prime Minister, president react to Bondi shooting

In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the scenes in Bondi are “shocking and distressing”.

“Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected,” he said.

“I just have spoken to the AFP Commissioner and the NSW Premier.

“We are working with NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed.

“I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley, in a statement, said “Australians are in deep mourning tonight.

“With hateful violence striking at the heart of an iconic Australian community, a place we all know so well and love, Bondi.

“The loss of life from this attack is significant and I join with the Prime Minister in urging all Australians to follow official advice from police and relevant authorities.

Ms Ley said the attack occurred “as our Jewish community came together at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration”.

“This was a celebration of peace and hope for the future, severed by hate,” she said.

Ms Ley thanked police and first responders.

“Those who ran towards the danger, everyday Australians, our police and paramedics are heroes,” she said.

“I provide the Prime Minister and all Commonwealth and State agencies with the Coalition’s full and unconditional support as both governments respond to this situation.”

News of the shooting spreads internationally

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog condemned the shooting as cruel, according to The Times of Israel.

“Our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah,” Herzog aid while at an event at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

“We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government to seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.

“Our hearts go out to them … we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them, and we pray for those who lost their lives.”

Israeli deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and Kenesset member Sharren Haskel said: “This is a terrible and horrifying event.”

In a statement, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), the Council of Imams NSW and the Australian Muslim community said they “unequivocally condemn the horrific shootings in Bondi”.

“These acts of violence and crimes have no place in our society. Those responsible must be held fully accountable and face the full force of the law.

“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those who witnessed or were affected by this deeply traumatic attack.

“This is a moment for all Australians, including the Australian Muslim community, to stand together in unity, compassion, and solidarity, rejecting violence in all its forms and affirming our shared commitment to social harmony and the safety of all Australians.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post, strongly commended the “ghastly terrorist attack”.

“On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones,” he said.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief.”

Bystanders capture shooting as it unfolds

A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said paramedics were called at 6.45pm to reports of multiple people shot at Bondi Beach.

“We responded with more than 26 resources, including medical teams by helicopter and roads intensive care paramedics and special operations paramedics.”

In a video, police can be seen tending to two men on the ground, with a shotgun underneath one of the men and multiple spent shotgun shells on the ground.

A bystander can be heard “f*****g bash him” before a shirtless man approaches and kicks the man on the ground, before police move him away.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the “reports and images coming out of Bondi tonight are deeply distressing”.

“Police and emergency services are responding and the public should follow official advice,” he said.

“We will update the public as soon as more information becomes available”.

A brochure for Chanukah By The Sea urged attendees to gather at Bondi Beach Park near the children's playground at 5pm.

Arthur, a Canadian, who lives on nearby Ramsgate St said he heard “three minutes of just ringing (sound).

“Just ‘shot, shot, shot’.

“I was told they were able to reload three or four times.”

“At first when you hear gunshots it sounds like a car backfiring.

“But when you hear people yelling ‘there’s a shooter, shooter’ you know.

“It was powerful. I’ve heard guns before and they were strong.”

One mother whose two daughters were with friends enjoying a night swim, said panic broke out when the sound of gunshots rang out.

“A lady grabbed them and told them to run,” the mother said.

“They saw the gun and are now hiding in a house”.

The woman said her daughter texted her to let her know they were sheltering at a local resident’s house.

“There was a shooting in Bondi but we are all safe don’t worry we are currently in someone’s house,” the text message read.

The mother said she spoke to the woman sheltering her daughters and told her not to pick them up “as everything was closed”.

“I was watching the Brown shooting (Brown University in the US) … but never in my wildest dream did I think they would be near a shooting in Bondi,” the mum said.

Bondi beach

— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) December 14, 2025

The beach was packed on Sunday night for the Bondi Christmas markets.

Video purporting to be from Bondi Beach on Sunday appeared to show gunshots and people fleeing from the beach.

In another video, two men – one appearing to be armed with a shotgun – can be seen firing towards the beach as people can be heard screaming.

At least 12 shots can be heard before the video ends.

In a separate video, police can be seen performing CPR on a man on the ground on the bridge near to the Pavillion.

Other officers are seen attending to another man.

Bondi beach

— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) December 14, 2025

In a post, NSW Police said they were “responding to a developing incident at Bondi Beach and are urging the public to avoid the area”.

“Anyone at the scene should take shelter,” police said.

“Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand.”

A police spokesman said officers remained at the scene and that the incident was ongoing.

A resident across the street said “this is from my apartment what the f**k. I saw the police arrest one and it looks like one has been shot by police”.

The alert was posted to X, formerly Twitter, shortly before 7pm ADST.