The attack on a Hanukkah festival of the jewish community took 16 lives, becoming the most serious gun and bullet disaster in Australia in nearly 30 years.
The 50-year-old father was shot dead at the scene, while his 24-year-old son is in critical condition at the hospital, according to New South Wales state police.
Initially, the incident killed 15 people, but the death of the elder suspect increased the total number of victims to 16. The authorities described it as a deliberate attack with a clear judges' motives.
About 40 people are still being treated in the hospital, including 2 seriously injured police officers, but their condition has stabilized. The victims were aged between 10 and 87, showing the level of violence and indifference in the attack.
Witness said the gunfight lasted about 10 minutes in the famous Bondi beach area in Sydney, which was packed with people due to hot weather.
The gunshot caused hundreds of people to panic, fleeing across the sand, into neighboring streets and parks. About 1,000 people are believed to have attended the Hanukkah event held in a small park next to the beach.
A video recorded by local residents shows a person crossing the street rushing to control and snatch a gunman's weapon. This brave act was praised by the police for saving many lives, turning the unknown man into a "Hero of Bondi" in the public eye.
Morgan Gabriel, a 27-year-old local resident, said she was on her way to the cinema when she heard what seemed like fireworks.
Then people started running up my street. I have sheltered about 6 or 7 people in the house, including close friends. Everyone only thinks about escaping, leaving their phones on the beach" - she said, describing the tragic atmosphere covering this bustling area.
On the morning of December 15, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese went to Bondi Beach to lay flowers in memory of the victims. He called it a dark moment for the country, calling the incident an act of pure evil, an attack on the cardinal tide and terrorism right on Australias land. He affirmed that the government will do everything necessary to eliminate Buddhism.
Many world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, have expressed their condolences and solidarity with Australia. Speaking at the White House, Mr. Trump dedicated a minute of silence to the victims at Bondi.
Police have increased security forces in jewish settlements across Australia. The shooting comes as the country has seen a wave of increasing jewish card behavior since the Gaza conflict broke out in late 2023.
The Australian jewish community is small but deeply attached to the larger community. About 150,000 people claim to be jewish out of a total of 27 million people. It is estimated that about a third of them live in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, including Bondi.
Major cities such as Berlin (Germany), London (UK) and New York (USA) have increased security around Hanukkah events on December 14 after the attack in Bondi.
