What began as an evening of light, music, and communal celebration on one of Australia’s most iconic shorelines descended into chaos and terror on Sunday, when gunfire erupted during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach, leaving multiple people injured and prompting a massive police operation that remains ongoing. According to a report on Sunday in The New York Post, Australian authorities confirmed that two individuals are in custody as investigators work to determine the motive behind an attack that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s Jewish community and rekindled memories of past atrocities.

New South Wales Police announced the arrests late Sunday after receiving reports of gunshots and injuries near the beachfront gathering. In a public statement posted on X, police said the operation was still active and urged the public to avoid the area.

“The police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area,” NSW Police said, a message amplified repeatedly by The New York Post as events unfolded in real time.

Among those killed in the terror attacker in Sydney was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad at Bondi and a key organizer of the event as well as his son-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman. @Chabad @Lubavitch @bondibeach @AustralianJA @Australia #Sydney #hanukkah2025… pic.twitter.com/2qLHcD3gF9

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) December 14, 2025

Witnesses described a scene of sudden, overwhelming violence erupting amid what had moments earlier been a festive gathering celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights. Hanukkah, which began at sundown, is traditionally marked by public menorah lightings, songs, food, and family-friendly festivities—elements that were reportedly present at the Bondi Beach event.

“I saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere,” 30-year-old local resident Harry Wilson told The Sydney Morning Herald, in remarks later cited by The New York Post. Wilson said panic spread almost instantly as gunshots rang out, sending people scrambling for cover across the sand and nearby walkways.

Watch: Footage shows a nearby restaurant taking cover at Bondi Beach. @bondibeach @AustralianJA @Australia #Sydney #HanukkahAttack @antisemitism @StandUp2JewHate @JewsFightBack @Chabad @Lubavitch @AntiIsraelHate #TerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/ptHzRDfWLJ

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) December 14, 2025

 Television footage aired by Sky News and ABC, and reviewed by The New York Post, showed individuals lying motionless on the ground as emergency responders rushed in. Sirens pierced the night air while armed police secured the perimeter and paramedics attended to the wounded.

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show beachgoers scattering in terror as multiple gunshots echoed, followed by the wail of police vehicles. In another clip, two men could be seen pinned to the ground by uniformed officers on a small pedestrian bridge near the beach. Police appeared to be attempting to resuscitate one of the men, though authorities have not publicly confirmed the individual’s condition.

Reuters reported that it could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage. Nonetheless, The New York Post report noted that the imagery, combined with eyewitness accounts, painted a harrowing picture of a public celebration violently interrupted.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, confirmed in an interview with Sky News that the shooting occurred during a Hanukkah event organized by and for the Jewish community. His words, widely quoted by The New York Post, conveyed both anguish and disbelief.

“This is the Jewish community at its best—coming together to mark a happy occasion,” Ryvchin said. “If we were targeted deliberately in this way, it’s something of a scale that none of us could have ever fathomed. It’s a horrific thing.”

Ryvchin added that his media adviser had been wounded in the attack, underscoring the deeply personal toll the incident has taken on Jewish communal leadership in Australia.

While police have not yet publicly stated whether the shooting was a targeted antisemitic attack, the fact that it occurred during a Jewish religious celebration has intensified fears within the community. The New York Post reported that Jewish leaders across Australia swiftly called for calm while demanding a thorough investigation and increased security for communal events.

Australia’s federal government moved quickly to address public concern. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said authorities were fully engaged and urged cooperation with law enforcement.

“We are aware of an active security situation in Bondi,” the spokesperson said, according to The New York Post. “We urge people in the vicinity to follow information from NSW Police.”

Senior government officials were reportedly briefed throughout the evening as the scale of the incident became clearer. Though initial reports suggested multiple injuries, officials have not yet released a definitive tally of casualties or the severity of wounds, pending notification of families and ongoing medical assessments.

The lack of immediate clarity only added to the anxiety gripping Sydney, a city that has prided itself on its relative insulation from mass-casualty gun violence compared with other parts of the world.

The attack came almost exactly 11 years after one of Australia’s most traumatic episodes of terrorism: the 2014 Lindt Café siege in Sydney’s Martin Place. In that incident, a lone gunman took 18 people hostage, culminating in a 16-hour standoff that ended with the deaths of two hostages and the attacker.

As The New York Post report noted, the timing has reopened old wounds for Australians who remember the fear and uncertainty of that day. The comparison has been unavoidable in public discourse, with commentators warning against complacency in an era of rising global extremism.

For many in the Jewish community, the juxtaposition is especially painful. The Lindt Café siege, though not directed at Jews, remains a symbol of vulnerability in public spaces—an anxiety now sharpened by violence striking a religious celebration.

Bondi Beach, typically associated with sun, surf, and tourism, was transformed into a heavily guarded crime scene. Police cordoned off sections of the beachfront and surrounding streets as forensic teams began their work.

The New York Post reported that officers conducted door-to-door inquiries in nearby buildings and reviewed surveillance footage from businesses and public cameras. The presence of two suspects in custody suggests rapid police action, though authorities stressed that the investigation is far from complete.

“The police operation is ongoing,” NSW Police reiterated, signaling that further arrests or developments could follow.

Key questions remain unanswered: Was the shooting a targeted attack against Jews, or a violent incident that intersected with a public event? Were the suspects acting alone or as part of a broader network? And how did firearms—rare in Australia due to strict gun laws—come to be used in a crowded public space?

Sydney terror attack:
Reports say thousands of people were attending the Chabad event in Sydney where the terror attack took place. #Sydney #HanukkahAttack @AustralianJA @Australia @BondiBeachOZ @Chabad @Lubavitch @antisemitism @AntiIsraelHate @StandUp2JewHate @JewsFightBack… pic.twitter.com/8HrIqw8YB3

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) December 14, 2025

 The New York Post report highlighted that Australia’s stringent firearms regulations have historically resulted in low rates of gun violence, making Sunday’s incident all the more shocking. Any breach of those controls is likely to prompt renewed debate over enforcement and intelligence failures.

Security experts told Australian media that the attack underscores the evolving nature of threats, particularly in open, symbolic locations such as beaches and religious gatherings.

As night gave way to early morning, candles meant to symbolize hope and perseverance were overshadowed by fear and uncertainty. Yet Jewish leaders emphasized resilience, urging the community not to retreat from public expression of faith.

“We will not allow violence to define us,” one community member told reporters, a sentiment echoed in commentary cited by The New York Post.

Synagogues and Jewish organizations across Australia increased security overnight, and some public Hanukkah events scheduled for the coming days were placed under review.

By Sunday evening, Australia found itself holding its breath—waiting for official confirmation of motives, casualty figures, and the identities of those in custody. The images from Bondi Beach, replayed across television screens and online platforms, have already entered the national consciousness.

As The New York Post report observed, the attack is likely to trigger a broader reckoning about public safety, communal vulnerability, and the global rise in violence tied to ideological extremism.

For now, Bondi Beach stands as a stark reminder that even places synonymous with joy and freedom are not immune to sudden acts of terror. And for Australia’s Jewish community, a festival meant to celebrate light has been darkened by an act whose consequences will reverberate long after the candles burn out.

Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues. The nation, meanwhile, watches closely—hoping for answers, accountability, and healing in the wake of a night that transformed celebration into tragedy.