Sydney’s Bondi Beach, usually a sun-soaked symbol of leisure, became the scene of horror on Sunday.
How could a Hanukkah celebration turn into a bloodbath?
Authorities have now officially declared the mass shooting a “terrorist incident.”
At least 12 people were killed and around a dozen more injured.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the attack deliberately targeted the city’s Jewish community, striking at 9:36 pm local time.
“As a result of the circumstances of the incident… I declared this to be a terrorist incident,” he told reporters.
Police confirmed that one gunman was shot dead on the scene, while a second remains in critical condition.
Two other suspects have been taken into custody.
Investigators also discovered an improvised explosive device in a car linked to the attack.
This raises serious concerns about planning and coordination.
Anti-Semitic Attack Sydney
NSW Premier Chris Minns called it a “targeted assault on Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the events as “shocking and distressing” and urged the public to follow police guidance.
Leaders around the world have voiced solidarity.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the news “deeply distressing.”
New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon emphasized that Australians and New Zealanders are “family.”
Bondi Beach, a magnet for locals and tourists alike, remains heavily secured.
As the investigation unfolds, one question lingers.
In a world that should celebrate light and community, why do shadows still find a way in?
