Civilian Tackles Gunman During Deadly Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

SYDNEY  — A mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening has left at least 15 people dead and more than 40 injured, officials confirmed, in what Australian authorities are treating as an antisemitic terrorist attack on a Jewish community event.

The shooting occurred at approximately 6:47 p.m. (AEDT) on 14 December 2025, as attendees gathered for “Chanukah by the Sea”, a Hanukkah festival organized by the Chabad of Bondi near Archer Park on the northern end of Bondi Beach.

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Attack and Response

Eyewitness accounts and verified footage show two men dressed in black opening fire from a pedestrian footbridge overlooking the festival crowd, indiscriminately firing dozens of shots into the assembled crowd, which included families and children.

Police units were on the scene within minutes, engaging the shooters. One of the gunmen was killed by law enforcement, while the other was wounded and taken into custody by police, where he remains hospitalized under guard.

In addition to gunfire, authorities discovered and safely removed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the scene, prompting further investigation by bomb disposal units.

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Heroic Civilian Intervention

Amid the chaos, an unarmed civilian, identified by local media as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a Sydney fruit shop owner and father of two, tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen, an act authorities and officials have credited with potentially saving lives.

During the struggle, Ahmed was shot twice, reportedly in his arm and hand, and was hospitalised and undergoing surgery. Family members and authorities have confirmed that he is in stable condition. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and other officials described his actions as that of a “genuine hero.”

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Casualties and Victims

New South Wales officials confirmed the death toll has risen to at least 15, ranging in age from children to elderly adults, with many more victims hospitalized, several in critical condition.

Among the deceased were community figures, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organizer of the event. The deaths also include foreign nationals, with authorities identifying at least one Israeli and one French citizen among the victims.

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Suspects Identified

Australian police have identified the alleged shooters as a father and son, aged around 50 and 24, respectively. The elder gunman was killed at the scene; the younger, identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was wounded and is under medical care.

Investigators have stated that the firearms used were legally obtained, with multiple weapons recovered from the attack site and subsequent searches of residences linked to the suspects. Law enforcement is probing potential lapses in licensing and monitoring systems.

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Government and Community Reaction

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack, with Albanese labeling it an act of “pure evil” and affirming support for the Jewish community and all affected families.

Authorities have launched a national security review and signaled a push for stricter firearm regulations in the wake of the shooting, which is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades.

Religious and community leaders across Australia and internationally have also condemned the violence, calling for unity and greater protections for vulnerable communities.

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Ongoing Investigation

Law enforcement continues to investigate motives and possible accomplices, with national security agencies reviewing intelligence protocols. The incident has reignited debate over gun control laws and counter-terrorism measures in Australia.

This version now smoothly integrates the hero civilian story, keeps the factual, high-end tone, and flows naturally from the attack to response, hero intervention, casualties, and ongoing investigation.

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