Fifteen people were killed when a father and son opened fire at a Hanukkah festival near Bondi Beach. The elder suspect, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police; his son Naveed has been charged with more than 50 offences, including terrorism and 15 counts of murder. Jewish Australians say they feel unsafe and angry amid a reported surge in antisemitic incidents and are calling for broader societal action beyond gun control. Officials have pledged legal and policy responses, but community leaders demand sustained, coordinated efforts to combat hate.
Bondi Hanukkah Shooting: 15 Killed — Jewish Community Demands Action as Antisemitism Surges
Jewish Australians say they feel angry and frustrated at perceived government foot-dragging in confronting antisemitism (DAVID GRAY)(DAVID GRAY/AFP/AFP)
Fifteen people were killed when a father-and-son team opened fire at a Hanukkah festival near Bondi Beach, one of the deadliest shootings in modern Australian history. Police shot and killed the elder suspect, identified as Sajid Akram; his 24-year-old son, Naveed, was later charged in hospital with more than 50 offences, including terrorism and 15 counts of murder.
Attack and Investigation
The attack took place during a crowded Hanukkah celebration near the sunlit shores of Bondi Beach. Authorities say the pair fired into festival crowds, killing attendees that included two Holocaust survivors, a 10-year-old girl, and a couple who were shot after attempting to tackle one of the assailants. Police and investigators continue to examine motive and whether the assailants were inspired by extremist ideology.
Community Response: Fear, Anger and Frustration
As victims were laid to rest, Jewish community leaders and members described feelings of shock, anger and insecurity. Many cited a recent spike in antisemitic incidents and pointed to a pro-Palestinian rally at the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023, during which some attendees reportedly hurled antisemitic insults, as a turning point.
"Do we feel safe?" Rabbi Yossi Friedman told AFP at a floral memorial. "You know, the answer is 'not really', to be honest. We thought we were safe. Our grandparents and great grandparents—Holocaust survivors—many of them came here to escape hate and bloodshed. We're finding it here again."
Members described increased security at schools and communal sites, with some saying visible armed protection made the community feel imprisoned rather than protected. Others noted that some Jews now avoid outward displays of faith—like wearing a kippah or a Star of David—out of fear.
Official Reaction and Policy Debate
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the Bondi attack as an antisemitic terrorist act and described it as "pure evil," saying investigators believe the assailants were inspired by jihadist ideology. The government has highlighted recent measures it says address hate, including criminalising hate speech, banning the Nazi salute and hate symbols, and appointing a student ombudsman with investigative powers.
Jillian Segal, Australia's special envoy to combat antisemitism, warned that anti-Jewish prejudice has been "seeping into society for many years" and said authorities have not done enough to counter it. Segal and community groups point to a reported 316% rise in antisemitic incidents in the year following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel—encompassing threats, assaults, vandalism and intimidation.
The shooting has also renewed calls for stricter gun controls after police found the older assailant owned six licensed firearms. Some community members and analysts, however, argue that focusing solely on firearms misses the root cause: the spread of hate and radicalisation. "Antisemitism isn't a Jewish problem to solve, it's society's problem," said data analyst Brett Ackerman.
Looking Ahead
Community leaders are calling for a broad, coordinated response that combines law enforcement, education, stronger hate-crime enforcement and community outreach. Many say long-term prevention requires society-wide efforts to identify, confront and counteract antisemitism and other forms of hate before they turn into violence.
