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A shopkeeper who tackled one of the Bondi Beach gunmen told his cousin to tell his family he “went down to save people’s lives” before he stepped in to act.

Ahmed al-Ahmed, a father-of-two from Sydney, was seen tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him during an antisemitic terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney on Sunday.

Video footage of Mr Ahmed intervening circulated widely on social media following the attack.

He was at the beach with his cousin Jozay Alkanj, who told the Sydney Morning Herald that Mr Ahmed asked him to pass a message to his family before he acted.

Mr Alkanj said Mr Ahmed told him: “I’m going to die – please see my family [and tell them] that I went down to save people’s lives.”

Mr Ahmed’s family previously said he was in hospital with bullet wounds to his arm and hand, but was in “good spirits”.

His father said his actions showed the 43-year-old’s impulse to protect people as he called him a “hero of Australia”.

Speaking to ABC Australia through a translator, Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed said: “His friend told him, ‘Let’s go have coffee at Bondi.’

“They got there and were shocked to see armed men firing weapons at terrorists.

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Ahmed al-Ahmed has received widespread praise for tackling one of the Bondi Beach attackers (Social Media)

“Their lives were in danger. He noticed one of the armed men in a distance, from him hiding behind a tree.

“My son is a hero, he served with the police and in the central security forces, and he has the impulse to protect people.

“When he saw people lying on the ground, and the blood everywhere, immediately his conscience and his soul compelled him to pounce on one of the terrorists and to rid him of his weapon.

“I feel pride and honour, because my son is a hero of Australia.”

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Ahmed is currently recovering in hospital after suffering gunshot wounds to his arm (Chris Minns)

Mr Ahmed’s parents told the broadcaster he had moved to Australia from Syria in 2006, while they had only arrived in the country months ago after years separated from their son.

The Times reports that Mr Ahmed’s lawyer Sam Issa visited him in hospital today and gave an update on his condition.

Mr Issa said: “He said he’d do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him. He’s not well at all. He’s riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment.”

His mother, Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, said she is proud of her “do-gooder” son.

She told ABC Australia through a translator: “I’m proud that my son was helping people. He saved lives, souls. God would not harm him because he was a do-gooder.

“He saw they were dying and people were losing their lives, and when that guy ran out of ammo, he took it from him, but he was hit. We pray that God saves him.”

New South Wales Police have confirmed that 16 people have died following the shooting, including one suspected gunman.

Australian police said a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son, named in local media as Sajid and Naveed Akram, were the suspects.

Sajid was shot by police and died at the scene but Naveed Akram, who was wounded, is expected to survive his injuries and face criminal charges.

The two gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the start of Hanukkah at Campbell Parade on the Sydney beach.

A further 40 people are being treated for a range of serious injuries, including two police officers, according to the force, who have confirmed the mass shooting was a terrorist incident that was “designed to target the Jewish community”.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, told a press conference in Sydney that the attack represents “some of our worst fears about terrorism”, but he hailed Mr Ahmed as a “genuine hero” as he described footage of the incident as “unbelievable”.

“A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people,” he added.

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As holiday cheer fills your home during this time of year, so does the dirt and grime that all your guests leave behind. 

If you’re still holding on to that loud, bulky corded vacuum, it might be time to upgrade to a high-quality cleaning tool — one that doesn’t require an outlet and will get you through the holidays and beyond. Right now at Amazon, the Vacusion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, that more than 1,000 shoppers snagged in the past month, is down to $72. With three powerful suction modes, according to users, and a 150-watt motor, this vacuum effortlessly sucks up crumbs, dirt, dust, and debris from carpets and hard flooring alike. 

It weighs less than six pounds, making it ideal for daily messes and spills. Plus, it comes with a fleet of LED lights that illuminate floors to highlight fine dust, so nothing gets missed.

Vacusion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Amazon

The motorized brush head swivels up to 180 degrees sideways and 90 degrees vertically, so maneuvering around bulky furniture is a breeze. It’s also equipped with a brush head that doesn’t tangle, which keeps hair and pet fur from wrapping around the roller. 

The compact vacuum cleaner can also be converted into a handheld device for above-the-floor messes. Attachments include a dust brush and a crevice tool for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and other hard-to-reach areas. You can even extend the tube to reach high-up spots that collect dust, like ceiling fans and the tops of refrigerators.

“A handy and powerful cleaning partner!”, exclaimed one reviwer. “It looks sleek, feels lightweight, and works amazingly well on both carpet and hardwood floors. The suction power is surprisingly strong for its size, and the LED display makes it easy to check battery life and modes.”

Another shopper enthused that it’s “better than” their Dyson vacuum. They added, “It is quieter than our Dyson V10. [It] also picks up our golden retriever’s hair better.”  And another reviewer wrote they didn’t know “how dirty” their carpets were until using this vacuum. “The best part is, it gets the edges, where the carpet meets the wall, better than any vacuum I own.”

Head to Amazon now to snag the Vacusion Cordless Vacuum Cleaner while it’s on sale for just $72 and keep scrolling for more discounted floor cleaners. 

Bissell Little Green Mini Portable Carpet Cleaner

Amazon

Bissell CrossWave Omniforce Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum

Amazon

Mxnsewr Steam Mop

Amazon

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Donald Trump Jr is engaged to Bettina Anderson after a whirlwind romance that began just over a year ago.

The president was speaking at a Christmas White House reception when he shared the news that his eldest son and his girlfriend are set to be married. 

After embracing his father, Trump Jr took to the microphone to tell attendees that he was at ‘a loss for words.’ 

‘I want to thank Bettina for that one word: yes!’ he joked. 

Trump Jr revealed he was unsure about whether his new bride-to-be would actually accept his proposal as he got down on one knee. 

‘When you go down there, it’s like, you’re gonna go, and you’re trying to ask, and you’re not sure what the answer’s gonna be. It’s always a little bit rough. But she said yes, which is a big win for the end of the year.’ 

The crowd at the White House then applauded and cheered as the 38-year-old Anderson spoke, first thanking the president and First Lady Melania Trump. 

‘Wow, what a privilege it is to be here at the White House, Mr President, thank you so much for hosting this incredible party, and to our First Lady, these decorations, am I right, aren’t they unbelievable?’

Donald Trump Jr (pictured right) has become engaged to Bettina Anderson (pictured left) in announcement presided over by his father (pictured center) at the White House

Anderson looked elegant in a red, strapless gown as she beamed about her engagement. 

‘This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life, and I get to marry the love of my life, and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!’

President Trump then offered his future daughter-in-law a kiss and two words – ‘good luck’ – as the crowd applauded again.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment. 

Don Jr, 47, began dating Anderson in spring 2024 and in September 2024, was caught locking lips with the Florida socialite.

DailyMail.com exclusively obtained photos at the time that showed the two kissing during an intimate date at a Palm Beach restaurant. 

Afterwards, a source said Don Jr.’s dalliance with Bettina was an open secret in the ritzy Florida town, and that they were spotted enjoying each other’s company frequently despite not having publicly split from ex-girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Then, in early December 2024, Don Jr. and Bettina were spotted enjoying a romantic night out together.

Bettina said: ‘This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life and I get to marry the love of my life and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world!’

The pair have appeared off and on throughout 2025, including at high profile events like the president’s trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans

The pair have appeared at high profile events, including the president’s trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and Trump’s March address to Congress, throughout 2025.

Sources told The Daily Mail that many began speculating wedding bells were near when Anderson took center stage at an official dinner held in honor of Saudi Arabia.

MAGA insiders told the Daily Mail that Anderson’s appearance in a dazzling Safiyaa teal caped gown set tongues wagging.

‘Don is in love with Bettina,’ one insider said, ‘He is telling friends “This is the woman I love.”

‘His dad loves her. They all feel she is classy and has an impeccable fashion sense.

‘Don brought her to the most high profile White House gala so proudly.’

Anderson was photographed with Don Jr’s half-sister Tiffany Trump, 32, and her husband Michael Boulos, 28. 

Tiffany and Michael married in 2022 at her father’s Mar-a-Lago estate. 

Sources told The Daily Mailthat many began speculating wedding bells were near when Anderson took center stage at an official dinner held in honor of Saudi Arabia where she was photographed with Don Jr (pictured left), his sister Tiffany (pictured center right) and Tiffany’s husband, Michael Boulous (pictured right) 

Bettina Anderson is pictured in a smart navy gown as she prepared to attend Tuesday’s White House gala in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Her presence at the dinner, which was also attended by First Lady Melania Trump, 55, indicates just how quickly Anderson has become part of the Trump inner circle.

Anderson was born into one of Palm Beach’s old-money banking families, the daughter of Palm Beach society couple Harry Loy Anderson Jr, a banker, and his wife Inger, an immigrant from Sweden.

Best known as H. Loy, the elder Anderson became president of a small bank, Worth Avenue National Bank, in 1970 then went on to take over a slew of other financial institutions.

Bettina’s mother was a model at New York’s Eileen Ford agency in the 1970s and 1980s who started an exercise regimen patterned after the era’s guru, Jane Fonda.

Through a network of old-time society members formed at the black-tie galas organized on the island of Palm Beach during the winter, H. Loy became the moneyed set’s go-to banker.

That put him in contact with people like Herbert ‘Peter’ Pulitzer, scion of the publishing fortune whose first marriage to Lilly Pulitzer planted the seeds of a clothing empire, and second marriage to Roxanne Pulitzer made him a household name in the early 1980s.

Anderson was known to be Peter Pulitzer’s best friend and stood by him during his divorce from Roxanne. 

With clients like Pulitzer and his presence on the boards of top Palm Beach charities like the American Red Cross, the Hanley-Hazelden Foundation, the YMCA, Holocaust Memorial Foundation, Leukemia Foundation and Boy Scouts of America, Bettina’s dad was able to give his family a decadent, extravagant lifestyle while organizing parties where the guests of honor mingled with live elephants and pythons.

The president and his eldest son were seen embracing before Don Jr shared his joy at his engagement to socialite Anderson, in a video posted to social media by Trump ally Laura Loomer Monday evening 

Bettina’s parents had six children whose births were spread over 20 years, four girls and two boys. Bettina has a twin sister, Kristina.

H. Loy died in 2006 of Alzheimer’s, according to his obituary, after he famously turned to religion and became an elder in the local Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Bettina and her siblings were raised with the proverbial silver spoon and sent to the finest private schools that Palm Beach and the country had to offer.

Don Jr was married to first wife Vanessa from 2005 to 2018 and have five children.

The pair appear to still be on good terms, as Vanessa attended a reception at the White House Sunday evening and was shouted out by President Trump. 

He dated Kimberly Guilfoyle, a Fox News host now serving as the president’s ambassador to Greece, from 2018 to 2024. 

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Flu cases are soaring across the UK

Many of the symptoms overlap(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images)

Flu cases are surging across the UK, with an average of 2,660 flu patients hospitalised daily in England during the week ending December 7. This represents a 55% increase from 1,717 the previous week.

Other viruses are currently doing the rounds, and with colds also widespread throughout the winter period, it can be difficult to distinguish which ailment you’re suffering from. Here is some guidance on identifying the key differences to help you protect your health and maintain your family’s wellbeing during the colder months.

Both colds and flu are respiratory conditions but stem from different viruses. “Colds are predominantly caused by viruses, with rhinovirus being the most common perpetrator,” explains Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice. “Whereas, the flu is specifically caused by influenza viruses, primarily types A and B.”

Because of this you can actually contract both a cold and flu simultaneously. Asif added: “It is possible to be infected with both a cold and the flu simultaneously, as they are caused by different viruses.

“Both have peaks during the cold season and can run your immune system down, making you susceptible to further infections. Both the common cold and the flu are highly contagious respiratory illnesses spread through direct contact and respiratory droplets.

“Transmission occurs when virus-laden droplets are expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking, landing in the mouths or noses of nearby individuals. In poorly ventilated situations, these droplets can travel longer distances. Infection can also occur by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face.”

Cold vs flu symptoms

“A common cold typically presents with a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a sore throat, mild cough and mild fatigue,” clarifies Dr Claire Agathou, GP and co-founder of the A–Z General Practice at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK. “Meanwhile, flu typically causes a sudden onset of fever, severe tiredness and weakness, muscle and joint aches, a headache, a dry cough, chills (feeling shivery and sweats), a loss of appetite and sometimes diarrhoea.

“The key difference is that flu tends to come on suddenly and much more severely, whereas cold symptoms are milder and develop more gradually.”

Can a cold or flu trigger other illnesses or complications?

“While colds are generally mild and self-limiting, both colds and flu can lead to complications such as sinusitis, ear infections, chest infections, and worsening of underlying health conditions,” notes Agathou. “Flu can cause pneumonia, hospital admission, and serious illness in vulnerable groups. However, even those who are normally well can become very unwell so it’s important to contact your GP promptly to discuss your symptoms if you feel unwell or are concerned about your symptoms.”

How to treat flu

“Both are mainly managed with rest, fluids and symptom relief such as paracetamol,” explains Agathou. “However, in higher-risk groups, antiviral medication may be prescribed for flu if started early. Antibiotics are not effective for either unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.”

When will I feel better?

“A cold usually settles within seven to 10 days, but flu recovery often takes one to two weeks, with fatigue sometimes lasting longer,” observes Agathou.

How can I avoid catching colds and flu?

“The single most effective protection against flu is the annual flu vaccine, particularly for vulnerable groups, but other preventive steps for both flu and a common cold include regular handwashing and staying home when unwell,” recommends Agathou. “I’d also recommend avoiding touching the face, covering any coughs and sneezes and making sure indoor spaces are well ventilated.”

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine in the UK?

“The free NHS flu vaccine is offered annually to adults aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children aged two-three years and school-aged children (reception years to Year 11), people aged six months to 64 years with eligible long-term conditions, people with learning disabilities, carers, frontline health and social care workers, and care home residents and staff,” says Agathou. “Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals are also eligible.

“However, people who are not eligible for a free NHS vaccine can still access the flu jab privately. If you are unsure, speak to your GP or local pharmacist.”

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Donald Trump has asked his Chinese counterpart to release pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, who has been found guilty of national security offences in Hong Kong.

The US president said he felt “so badly” about the media tycoon and British citizen, 78, who was arrested in August 2020 after China imposed a national security law following massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

Lai, who had previously been sentenced for several lesser offences during his five years in prison, could now spend the rest of his life behind bars.

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Jimmy Lai. Pic: Reuters

Mr Trump said he had spoken to Xi Jinping about Lai’s case and asked for his release.

“I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” he said. “He’s not well, he’s an older man, and he’s not well, so I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.”

It comes as UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said China’s ambassador to the UK had been summoned over Lai’s conviction to underline the government’s position in the “strongest terms”.

Speaking in parliament, she repeated calls for Lai to be released and called the conviction “a politically motivated prosecution”.

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People wait to enter the court building ahead of the verdict. Pic: AP

Ms Cooper made the remarks after Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said Lai’s case has been a priority for the government and “we will continue to call for his immediate release”.

Earlier in the day, China’s ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, met with a senior official at the UK Foreign Office “to lodge solemn representations over the UK side’s statement that made irresponsible remarks on the Hong Kong High Court’s guilty verdict in the Jimmy Lai case”, China’s embassy said.

Explained: Who is Jimmy Lai?

Lai, who founded the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, as well as one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications. He was found guilty of all three charges.

Speaking after the verdict, Lai’s daughter Claire said if he were released he would devote himself to God and his family rather than political activism.

“He just wants to reunite with his family. He wants to dedicate his life to serving our Lord, and he wants to dedicate the rest of his days to his family,” Claire Lai told the Associated Press. “My father is fundamentally not a man who operates on illegal ground.”

Image:
Claire Lai. Pic: Reuters

She said five years of solitary confinement has taken a toll on his health, and he has lost a significant amount of weight.

“He is a lot weaker and has only gotten weaker in the last year,” she said. “He has back pains and waist pains, his nails… when we visit, we can tell that they’re turning colours and falling off. Some of his teeth are rotting.”

He also has heart palpitations, is diabetic and his vision and hearing are failing, she added.

Hong Kong’s security chief, Chris Tang, said Lai has received “full medical services” and has never complained of the medical care he has been given.

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Jimmy Lai’s son: UK government must ‘do more’

‘You’ve got to keep fighting’

Meanwhile, her brother Sebastian Lai is lobbying the UK government for their father’s release.

“Regarding the United Kingdom, we talk about normalising relationships. Well, my father’s freedom should be a precondition to that,” he said.

Asked if he is optimistic international pressure can help, he said: “I think you’ve got to keep fighting no matter what. I think, taking my father’s example, standing up for what is right is why we’re doing it. This is my way of fighting for it.”

Hong Kong’s leader John Lee welcomed the verdict, saying: “He has harmed the fundamental interests of the country and the well-being of the people of Hong Kong; his actions are shameful and his intentions malicious.”

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Three latest attacks in the eastern Pacific Ocean come as the US increases military presence in Trinidad and Tobago, near Venezuela.

Published On 16 Dec 202516 Dec 2025

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The United States has said it killed eight people in new attacks on vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, days after the US military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker amid Washington’s continuing military buildup in Latin America.

In a post on social media, the US Military Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said that “lethal kinetic strikes” targeted three vessels in international waters on Monday, at the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

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Eight people were killed in total, SOUTHCOM said in a statement.

“Three in the first vessel, two in the second and three in the third,” it said, while claiming without providing any evidence that those killed were linked to drug trafficking.

At least 90 people have been killed in similar US attacks on dozens of vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela since September, in what international law experts have criticised as extrajudicial killings by the US military.

On Dec. 15, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… pic.twitter.com/IQfCVvUpau

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) December 16, 2025

US lawmakers have questioned Hegseth over his role in the attacks, including whether he personally ordered a second strike on a boat targeting two people who had survived a first attack and were left clinging to the debris in September.

The Pentagon has also deployed warships, a submarine, drones and fighter jets to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, in what it claims are efforts to tackle drug smuggling in the region.

Venezuela said the attacks and US military buildup were aimed at allowing “external powers to rob Venezuela’s immeasurable oil and gas wealth“, even before US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, with US President Donald Trump telling reporters, “I assume we’re going to keep the oil.”

US military to use Trinidad airports, on Venezuela’s doorstep

The latest attacks on vessels in Latin American waters come as the US continues to build up its considerable military presence in the region surrounding Venezuela, with Trinidad and Tobago saying on Monday that it had authorised US military aircraft to use its airports.

Trinidad and Tobago said it had given the green light for the US military to use its airports “in the coming weeks”, adding that Washington would use them for “logistical” operations, including “facilitating supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations”.

The Caribbean island nation, which is located only 12km (7.4 miles) from Venezuela at its closest point, has been supportive of the US military buildup in the region, in contrast to some other Central and South American leaders.

Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has said she would rather see drug traffickers “blown to pieces” than have them kill citizens of her nation.

In response, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro again said that his country would stop supplying gas to Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, according to the Venezuelan state television channel Telesur.

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The United States military said late on Monday that it had carried out strikes on three alleged narco-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific ocean, killing eight people.

“Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking,” US Southern Command said in a statement on social media platform X.

“A total of eight male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions-three in the first vessel, two in the second and three in the third,” it added.

The US military did not give any evidence for their drug trafficking allegations.

A video posted with the statement showed a boat moving through the sea waters before exploding.

Criticism mounts for Trump’s counter-narcotics campaign

The US military strikes against alleged drug traffickers, which began in September, have killed at least 90 people so far and destroyed over 20 vessels.

President Donald Trump justifies the attacks as a necessary escalation to stymie the flow of drugs into the US.

Trump has asserted that his country is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

Monday’s statement comes as the Trump administration faces intense scrutiny in the US Congress over its ongoing strike campaign on alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Top officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to provide closed-door briefings for lawmakers in the House and Senate.

On September 2, a “double tap strike” triggered accusations of a possible war crime.

The incident saw survivors of an initial boat attack, carried out by the US military, being killed in a second strike on the vessel.

Hegseth maintains he did not order a second strike.

The White House says the follow-up strike was ordered by a navy admiral.

Regional tensions

The Caribbean is also witnessing the largest US military buildup in decades.

The strikes have led to an increased friction between the US and Venezuela.

Washington claims that the drug smugglers have links to Venezuela’s strongman President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro denies the allegation and claims that the US is “fabricating a new war” to cause a regime change in the South American nation.

The strikes have been seen as the precursor to possible US land attacks, which Trump says are coming soon.

Target Venezuela: Drug war or US power grab?

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Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher

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Australian authorities said Tuesday that the father and son who opened fire on families during a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach had packed their vehicle with improvised explosive devices and homemade ISIS flags, deepening fears that the massacre was part of a broader attack plot than initially believed.

During a press conference, investigators called the father-and-son gunmen, ages 24 and 50, “cowards” who hunted Jewish Australians “in broad daylight.” Fifteen people were killed and more than two dozen were injured in the shootings, which police are now formally describing as an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack.

New South Wales Police confirmed the younger attacker’s vehicle contained IED’s and two homemade ISIS flags, evidence authorities said points directly to extremist inspiration and an apparent intent to carry out a larger, coordinated assault. Forensic teams are still conducting ballistic and chemical examinations of the items.

“This was a barbaric attack against Jewish Australians,” Australia’s federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett said. “They were hunted down in broad daylight.”

JOHN FETTERMAN BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATS, SLAMS PARTY’S PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD STANCE AS ‘ABSOLUTE BETRAYAL’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stand behind NSW Premier Chris Minns as he speaks during a press conference at NSW Police headquarters, following a deadly shooting incident during a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025.  (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

Authorities said they are still working to determine whether the devices were functional or intended for secondary targets.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism Yasmin Catley, attend a press conference during a visit to NSW Police headquarters, following a deadly shooting incident during a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025.  (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

Mal Lanyon, the Police Commissioner for New South Wales state, said the suspects traveled to the Philippines last month. Their reasons for the trip and where in the Philippines they went would be probed by investigators, Lanyon said.

The region has long been home to ISIS-linked networks. Groups of Muslim separatist militants, including Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines, once expressed support for ISIS and have hosted small numbers of foreign militant combatants from Asia, the Middle East and Europe in the past.

SCHUMER DRAWS FIRE FOR CASUAL TONE AFTER SYDNEY TERROR ATTACK AS FETTERMAN, CRUZ DEMAND TOUGHER STANCE

Decades of military offensives, however, have considerably weakened Abu Sayyaf and other such armed groups, and Philippine military and police officials say there has been no recent indication of any foreign militants in the country’s south.

A woman kneels and prays at a flower memorial to shooting victims outside the Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, a day after a shooting. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)

Officials said there is currently no evidence that additional attackers or facilitators were involved in Sunday’s massacre but officials cautioned that this assessment could change as investigators review digital devices, travel records and thousands of seized documents.

Tuesday marked the first time that officials confirmed their beliefs about the suspects’ ideologies.

DAVE PORTNOY SAYS AUSTRALIA TERROR ATTACK ‘BORDERLINE INEVITABLE’ AS HATRED TRENDS INTO ‘MAINSTREAM’ CULTURE

There are more than two dozen people, ranging in ages from 10 to 87, still being treated in hospitals after Sunday’s massacre. Ten of them, including three who are patients in a children’s hospital, are in critical condition.

Among the injured is Ahmed al Ahmed, a 42-year-old Syrian-born fruit shop owner who was captured on video tackling and disarming one assailant, before pointing the man’s weapon at him and then setting it on the ground. He had surgery scheduled on Wednesday for shotgun wounds to his left shoulder and upper body.

People gather around a tribute for shooting victims outside the Bondi Pavilion at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, a day after the shooting.  (Mark Baker/AP Photo)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who met earlier with Ahmed, hailed him as “a true Australian hero.”

GAL GADOT, ASHTON KUTCHER CONDEMN ANTISEMITIC TERROR ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH HANUKKAH EVENT

“We are a brave country. Ahmed al Ahmed represents the best of our country. We will not allow this country to be divided. That is what the terrorists seek. We will unite. We will embrace each other, and we’ll get through this,” Albanese added.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend a press conference at NSW Police headquarters, following a deadly shooting incident during a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

The older gunman was shot dead while his son was also being treated at a hospital on Tuesday.

Albanese and the leaders of some of Australia’s states have pledged to tighten the country’s already strict gun already strict gun laws in what would be the most sweeping reforms since a shooter killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania in 1996. Mass shootings in Australia have since been rare.

Officials divulged more information as public questions and anger grew on the third day following the attack about how the suspects were able to plan and enact it and whether Australian Jews had been sufficiently protected from rising antisemitism.

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Albanese announced plans to further restrict access to guns, in part because it emerged the older suspect had amassed his cache of six weapons legally.

“The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack, appeared to have no regard for the age or ableness of their victims,” Barrett said. “It appears the alleged killers were interested only in a quest for a death tally.”

Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more. 

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European leaders push for ‘multinational force’ to secure peace in Ukraine

European leaders gathered in Berlin said they and the US committed to work together to provide “robust security guarantees,” including a European-led “multinational force” in Ukraine supported by the US.

They said the force’s work would include “operating inside Ukraine” as well as assisting in rebuilding Ukraine’s forces, securing its skies and supporting safer seas.

They said Ukrainian forces should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the guarantees by the US are “truly remarkable” and a “very important advancement” that he greatly welcomes.

(Getty Images)

Arpan Rai16 December 2025 03:20

Trump hints at Nato-style security guarantees for Ukraine

The United States has offered to provide Nato-style security guarantees for Kyiv as US and European negotiators reported progress in talks to end the war with Russia.

Envoys sent by US president Donald Trump made the unprecedented offer at talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, US officials said, but warned such a deal would not be on the table forever.

Under the deal being discussed in Berlin, Ukraine would receive security guarantees similar to those provided in Article 5 of the Nato treaty, which requires the alliance to come to the defence of any member that comes under attack, a US official aware of the matter said.

Another US official said Russia was open to Ukraine joining the European Union and that Trump wanted to prevent Russia from encroaching further westwards in Europe.

One official said security guarantees, including deconfliction and oversight of any deal, were the major focus of Monday’s talks and that an Article 5-like guarantee was something Trump believed he could get Moscow to accept.

Working groups are expected to meet in the US during the coming weekend, possibly in Miami, one of the officials said. “Are we prepared to go to Russia if needed? Absolutely,” the official added.

(AFP/Getty)

Arpan Rai16 December 2025 03:03

Ukraine will ask US for long-range weapons if Russia rejects peace effort, says Zelensky

Ukraine will ask the US for more sanctions pressure on Russia and additional weapons, including long-range, if Moscow rejects diplomatic efforts to end the war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine supports the idea of a ceasefire, in particular for energy strikes, during the Christmas period, he told reporters in a WhatsApp chat.

Arpan Rai16 December 2025 02:52

What is Ukraine looking for if not Nato membership?

Russia has long opposed the idea of Ukraine joining Nato, warning against the perceived ‘enlargement’ of the military alliance on its border. Crucially, this is also opposed by the Trump administration.

Ukraine’s president Zelensky said on Sunday it was willing to give up on Nato membership – if Europe and the United States can offer tangible security guarantees to ward off future invasion.

These will have to be clearly defined and binding; Ukraine was offered security assurances before, in 1994, when it gave up its nuclear weapons. Russia then annexed Ukrainian territory in 2014.

Zelensky has asked for Article 5-style guarantees without Nato membership as part of a potential peace deal. Nato’s Article 5 clause commands all members to treat an attack on any Nato ally as an attack on all.

This would not necessarily require all members to attack Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine.

James Reynolds16 December 2025 02:00

The Independent View: How the West can still win

“Thanks to the growing Russian threat against Europe and Nato – at a time when AI is changing the very nature of warfare – the new head of MI6 is right to caution that ‘the front line is everywhere’. The appropriate response can be summed up in one word: deterrence.”

How the West can still win

Editorial: Thanks to the growing Russian threat against Europe and Nato – at a time when AI is changing the very nature of warfare – the new head of MI6 is right to caution that ‘the front line is everywhere’. The appropriate response can be summed up in one word: deterrence

Bryony Gooch16 December 2025 01:00

Armed forces chief says ‘whole nation must step up’ amid Russia threat

Russia is a growing threat to the UK and the nation’s “sons and daughters” must be ready to fight in the event of an attack, the head of the British armed forces has warned.

Making the case for a society-wide approach to “defence and deterrence”, chief of defence staff Sir Richard Knighton said the situation is “more dangerous than I have known during my career”.

He called on “people who are not soldiers, sailors or aviators to nevertheless invest their skills – and money” on building up national resilience.

Sir Richard said: “Sons and daughters. Colleagues. Veterans. …will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight. And more families will know what sacrifice for our nation means.

“That is why it’s so important we do explain the changing threat and the need to stay ahead of it.”

Bryony Gooch16 December 2025 00:00

In pictures: European leaders meet with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner

(Getty Images)(Getty Images)

Bryony Gooch15 December 2025 23:00

As US offers Nato-style guarantees, territorial concessions remains a ‘painful’ topic

The United States has offered to provide NATO-style security guarantees for Kyiv as US and European negotiators reported progress in talks on Monday to end the war with Russia, but a deal on territorial concessions remained elusive.

Envoys sent by US president Donald Trump made the unprecedented offer at talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, US officials said, but warned such a deal would not be on the table forever.

The talks in the German capital have sparked some optimism from European leaders on a path to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. However, Moscow is yet to agree to any of the changes discussed in Germany and has not indicated any willingness to do so.

“We’re trying to get it done,” Trump said of an agreement to end the war, speaking at the White House after he called into a dinner involving the key officials in Berlin. “We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever and we’ll see what we can do,” Trump added.

The US is also leaning on Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the eastern Donetsk region, an official familiar with the matter said, in what would be a massive concession that could cause a ferocious backlash in Ukraine.

Calling the issue of territorial concessions “painful”, Zelensky told reporters later: “Frankly speaking, we still have different positions.” But he said he believed US mediators would help find a compromise.

Bryony Gooch15 December 2025 22:30

Ukraine hits Russian submarine in first-ever underwater drone attack

Bryony Gooch15 December 2025 22:00

Trump issues update following European leaders dinner

Donald Trump gave an update as US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended a dinner with European leaders, which the US president called into.

“I had a long talk with President Zelensky. Also, I spoke with the heads of Germany, Italy, NATO, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. We had very long and very good talks. And again, I think things are going along pretty well.

“27,000 soldiers were killed last month. Shouldn’t happen. Should have never happened. Should have never started that war should have never ever started, but it did and we’re trying to get it solved — that was Biden’s situation which I’m to get it done, and I think we’re closer now —and they, they will tell you that they’re closer now.

“We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever and we’ll see what we can do. We want to save a lot of lives. You know, we sell equipment to NATO. We don’t spend any money, but we do want to see if we can save a lot of lives when you’re losing 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers, mostly soldiers, so other people too, from towns then, like places like Kiev, various other places throughout Ukraine, it’s pretty bad. Nobody’s seen anything like it actually since World War Two.

ESP-GEN TRUMP-ROB REINER (AP)

“But we’re getting closer. We’re having tremendous support from European leaders. They want to get it ended also, and at this point, this moment, Russia wants to get it and the problem is, they’ll want to get it ended and then all of a sudden they won’t and Ukraine will want to get it ended and all of a sudden, they won’t. So we have to get them on the same page. But I think that’s working along. Very good talk.”

Bryony Gooch15 December 2025 21:30

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NEED TO KNOW

• A 14-year-old student at Community Trails Middle School in Collin County, Texas is suspected in the fatal shooting of Romeo English
• English was 24, and the pair allegedly got into an altercation at “a small ‘pop up’ gathering at a local residence
• He is suspected of shooting the victim “multiple times at close range” and is now in police custody

A middle school student has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old Texas man.

Lavon Police confirmed in a press release on Monday, Dec. 15 that the 14-year-old juvenile was “taken into custody in Dallas, Texas without incident.” The suspect has not been publicly identified because they are a minor.

“The Lavon Police Department would like to thank the community and the law enforcement agencies who assisted in the investigation and apprehension of this suspect,” police said in a statement. “In partnership with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Louisiana State Police, Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff s Office, Shreveport Police Department, Community Independent School District Police Department, Wylie Police Department, Josephine Police Department, Lavon Fire Department, Wylie ETMC, and Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office we have been able to bring the suspect into custody without further violence in less than 48 hours.”

An earlier press release issued Monday that the 14-year-old was wanted as a suspect in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Romeo English. Police say that the two were involved in an altercation on Dec. 13 at a “small ‘pop up’ gathering at a residence in the 700 block of Wellington Drive in Lavon,” per the press release.

The suspect and victim [were] both at the gathering when a verbal altercation took place which turned physical,” police said. “The resident of the home broke up the physical altercation.”

Police say that shortly after the altercation, the suspect “brandished a firearm and shot the victim multiple times at close range” as the victim was preparing to leave the residence.

Upon investigation, the LPD learned that the suspect, who stands at approximately 5’8″ and weighs 150 pounds, was involved in the incident.

“We believe this to be an isolated and targeted incident and do not believe there to be a continued threat to the public, however we advise anyone that sees the suspect to call 911 immediately and not to approach him,” the press release added.

Authorities initially discovered English with multiple gunshot wounds. He was brought to a hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries, Fox 4 reports.

Community Independent School District confirmed on Sunday, Dec. 14 that the alleged shooter has been identified as a student at Community Trails Middle School, a representative for the school confirmed to PEOPLE. Community ISD confirmed the 14-year-old last attended school on Nov. 11, and that the shooting of English appears to have been a targeted act, indicating that there is no active threat against the students in the district.

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“While the District does not believe this student poses a threat to any campus, we take the safety and security of our students and staff seriously,” Community ISD said in a statement. After the teen was arrested, the school issued another statement.

“For at least the morning of Tuesday, December 16, our campuses in Lavon – NeSmith Elementary, Dodson Elementary, and Community Trails Middle School – will remain closed to visitors. We will also continue to have an increased security presence on those campuses on Tuesday,” a representative for Community ISD confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

Anyone with further information pertaining to this investigation is encouraged to email cid@lavontx.gov or call dispatch to connect with an on-duty officer at 972-547-5350.

PEOPLE has reached out to LPD and Community ISD for comment.

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