Seventeen families of victims from the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack have called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to launch a federal royal commission to investigate rising antisemitism and alleged security failures. Instead, Albanese has ordered a national security review led by Dennis Richardson, due in April, and said he will back a state royal commission. Bondi’s New Year’s Eve events were canceled, security across Sydney has been tightened, and community heroes such as Ahmed al Ahmed have received widespread praise and donations.
Bondi Beach Families Demand Federal Royal Commission After Deadly Hanukkah Attack
Street artist Jarrod Grech poses for a photo next to his painting of Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Syrian-Australian shopkeeper who disarmed one of the attackers of Sydney's Bondi Beach shooting, in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Rod McGuirk/AP Photo)
Families of those killed and wounded in the Dec. 14 attack on a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach have published an open letter demanding a federal royal commission to probe a rise in antisemitism and alleged security failures tied to Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in three decades.
Families Seek Powerful, Nationwide Inquiry
Seventeen families of the victims — who say 15 people were killed and about 40 injured when two men opened fire at the outdoor event — say only a royal commission can fully examine whether warning signs were missed and how law enforcement and intelligence agencies responded. Royal commissions are Australia’s most powerful public inquiries and can compel testimony under threat of imprisonment for those who deliberately withhold evidence.
“We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward,” the families wrote.
Government Response: A National Review Instead
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted calls for a federal royal commission, saying such an inquiry would take years to conclude. Instead, he announced a national security review led by retired senior bureaucrat Dennis Richardson to examine potential procedural and legal failings; that review is due to report in April. Albanese said the Richardson review is in the national interest and pledged federal support for a royal commission that New South Wales has promised at the state level, but the families say a state-only inquiry would be insufficient.
Security, Cancelled Celebrations and Extra Resources
In the wake of the attack — the worst mass shooting in Australia since a lone gunman killed 35 people in Tasmania in 1996 — Bondi’s usual New Year’s Eve events have been canceled and tickets to a local music festival will be refunded. Security will be heightened across Sydney, with heavily armed police visible at central celebrations and discussions underway about possible military assistance.
New South Wales has bolstered Operation Shelter, a police initiative set up earlier in the year to reduce antisemitic and other hate-related incidents in Sydney, and has provided extra resources following the Bondi attack.
Suspects, Charges and Allegations
Authorities say one alleged shooter, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead at the scene. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, was wounded and faces dozens of charges, including 15 counts of murder. Officials have said the attack was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group.
Heroes, Community Response and Recognition
Officials and the public have highlighted acts of courage during the attack. Syrian-Australian shopkeeper Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, tackled and disarmed an attacker and was wounded by shotgun pellets. He has undergone multiple surgeries and more than 43,000 donors worldwide have contributed over 2.5 million Australian dollars to a fundraiser in his honor. Prime Minister Albanese has proposed a national bravery award to recognize civilians and first responders who intervened.
Street artist Jarrod Grech painted a mural of al Ahmed in Melbourne under the banner “True Blue,” a phrase that denotes authenticity and loyalty in Australian English.
What Comes Next
The Richardson review will report in April, but families and Jewish community leaders continue to press for a federal royal commission they say is necessary to address what they call a national crisis of rising antisemitism and systemic security failures.
