At least 12 people have died in a horrific antisemitic attack as over 1,000 people gathered on the famous Bondi Beach to celebrate a Jewish religious holiday – one of the victims was British-born

16:59, 14 Dec 2025Updated 17:13, 14 Dec 2025

Rabbi Eli Schlanger was one of the people killed in the terror attack

Two gunmen unleashed a horror terror attack during a celebration on the Jewish festival of Hannukah brutally killing several people.

Police confirmed at least 12 people are dead and 29 others injured following the horror shooting that unfolded on Bondi Beach, on Sunday evening local time. Horror footages showed how people desperately fled as two shooters descended at around 6.45pm and opened fire. The identities of the victims tragically killed in the terror incident are starting to be shared hours after the fatal attack.

Over 1,000 people had been gathered for the celebrations and officials said the gunmen started shooting at “a crowded group of families”.

READ MORE: Bondi Beach victim shot in the head is Holocaust survivor who died saving wifeREAD MORE: British Bondi Beach shooting victim’s heartbreaking final Facebook post before sudden deathPeople fleeing from the beach during the deadly attack(Image: UGC/AFP via Getty Images)

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

The 41-year-old London-born rabbi was tragically one of the 11 people killed by the gunmen, his heartbroken family has said. His loved ones said he went to Bondi Beach to spread “to spread happiness and light”.

The rabbi was born in London

It is understood that Rabbi Schlanger, a 41-year-old father of five,and his wife Chayala welcomed their youngest child, a baby boy, two months ago.

Speaking to Jewish News, Rabbi Schlanger’s cousin – Rabbi Zalman Lewis – said that the family grew up in Temple Fortune and were members of the Kinloss synagogue in Finchley. Rabbi Lewis remembered his cousin as “vivacious, optimistic and full of energy and life”.

He said: “Eli loved helping people, encouraging people to do mitzvot. He was so bubbly, almost eccentrically so.”

Schlanger’s great-uncle is the late Reverend Leslie Olsberg, who served as rabbi at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, where two people were murdered in a terror attack during Yom Kippur in October.

The two gunmen shooting at people(Image: COURTESY OF TIMOTHY BRANT-COLES/)

At the time, Schlanger spoke to Australian Jewish News and was asked if he was worried if something similar would happen in Australia. He replied that he put “full trust in Hashem that nothing will happen”.

Alex Kleytman

A Ukrainian Holocaust survivor was shot in the head during the horrific terror attack. His wife, Larisa Kleytman, emotionally said her husband of five decades, was killed while trying to save her life, The Australian reports.

Larissa Kleytman said her husband Alex was killed next to her(Image: DEAN LEWINS/EPA/Shutterstock)

The distraught wife said she and her husband went to Bondi Beach to celebrate the Jewish holiday as “for us it was always a very, very good celebration, for many, many years”.

Mrs Kleytman sado: “We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom’, and everybody fell down. At this moment he was behind me and at one moment he decided to go close to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me.”

The couple have two children and 11 grandchildren, according to the Daily Mail.

SOURCE PAGE

Messages were sweeping across Sydney within minutes of the attack at Bondi Beach.

Parents messaged their children and teenagers, who had been enjoying a late afternoon swim at Bondi.

Witnesses said police were on the scene quickly, and the streets of Sydney’s eastern suburbs were full of police cars and ambulances on their way to Bondi.

Follow live: 11 people killed at event celebrating Hanukkah

When we arrived, there were still dozens of people processing what had happened, and everywhere – shock.

Witnesses told us that when the gunfire started some people took cover in the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. Once the threat was over, lifeguards helped the injured and used surfboards to carry them out.

Image:
Witnesses tell Sky’s Nicole Johnston of Bondi ‘warzone’

Some people were clearly traumatised and provided graphic detail of witnessing the shooting and seeing people killed in front of them.

More on Bondi Beach Shooting

A photographer, Danny, was covering the Jewish holiday event.

Read more: What we know so far

He said he “locked eyes” with one of the gunmen, who then fired towards him. Danny said he was grazed by a bullet. He kept filming during the shooting, while taking cover.

Sam, from France, was working at Bondi. He went to the scene of the attack and saw almost a dozen people lying on the ground covered in blood. Sam described it as like a “war zone”.

Rabbi Lei Wolff, from Central Synagogue in Sydney, went to Bondi as soon as he heard about the mass shooting. A dear friend of his, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was killed in the attack.

Rabbi Wolff has called on people around the world to stand with Australia’s Jewish community against terrorism.

SOURCE PAGE

The Ukrainian president says Kyiv could drop its long-held ambition of joining NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees.

Ukraine has indicated it is prepared to drop its long-held ambition of joining NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said ahead of meetings with US envoys and European allies in Berlin.

Zelenskyy described the proposal on Sunday as a concession by Kyiv, after years of pressing for NATO membership as the strongest deterrent against future Russian attacks. He said the United States, European partners and other allies could instead provide legally binding security guarantees.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

“From the very beginning, Ukraine’s desire was to join NATO; these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the US and Europe did not support this direction,” Zelenskyy said in response to questions from reporters in a WhatsApp chat.

“Thus, today, bilateral security guarantees between Ukraine and the US, Article 5-like guarantees for us from the US, and security guarantees from European colleagues, as well as other countries – Canada, Japan – are an opportunity to prevent another Russian invasion,” he said.

“And it is already a compromise from our part,” Zelenskyy added, stressing that such guarantees must be legally binding.

The shift would mark a significant change for Ukraine, which has long sought NATO membership despite Moscow viewing the alliance’s expansion as a threat.

While the move aligns with one of Russia’s stated war objectives, Kyiv has continued to reject demands to cede territory.

Zelenskyy said he was seeking a “dignified” peace and firm assurances that Russia would not launch another attack, as diplomats gathered to discuss what could become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. He also accused Moscow of prolonging the war through sustained attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

Pressure to reach a settlement

The talks come amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to reach a settlement. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner on Sunday arrived in the German capital city of Berlin for discussions involving Ukrainian and European representatives.

The decision to send Witkoff, who has previously led negotiations with both Kyiv and Moscow, suggested Washington saw scope for progress.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine, Europe and the US were reviewing a 20-point plan that could culminate in a ceasefire, though he reiterated that Kyiv was not holding direct talks with Russia. He said a truce along current front lines could be considered fair, while noting that Russia continues to demand a Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donetsk and Luhansk still under Kyiv’s control.

Despite diplomatic efforts, Russian attacks have continued, leaving thousands without electricity in recent strikes. Ukrainian officials say Moscow is deliberately targeting the power grid to deprive civilians of heat and water during winter.

Fighting has also intensified in the Black Sea. Russian forces recently struck Ukrainian ports, damaging Turkish-owned vessels, including a ship carrying food supplies. An attack on Odesa set grain silos ablaze, according to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba. Zelenskyy said the strikes “had no … military purpose whatsoever”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against further escalation, saying the Black Sea should not become an “area of confrontation”.

“Everyone needs safe navigation in the Black Sea,” Erdogan said, calling for a “limited ceasefire” covering ports and energy facilities. Turkiye controls the Bosphorus Strait, a vital route for Ukrainian grain and Russian oil exports.

SOURCE PAGE

What we know about the victims

So far, very little information has come out about the identities of those killed and injured in the Bondi beach attack.

We know that 11 people were killed, and one of the gunmen is also dead. A second gunman is injured and in hospital, as are 29 victims, among them two police officers who were wounded while responding to the attack.

• London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, has been named as one of the victims, Jewish News reports. The father-of-five, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London. His first cousin, Brighton-based Rabbi Zalman Lewis, told Jewish News: “How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?”

• One Israeli citizen was among those killed, the Israeli foreign ministry said. It did not name the victim.

• The Jerusalem Post reported that one of its contributors, Arsen Ostrovsky, head of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Sydney office, was wounded in the attack.

Share

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Australian leaders and police have been swift to label the shooting an antisemitic terrorist attack.

“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” said New South Wales state premier Chris Minns.

“On the first day of Hanukkah, what should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”

“Our heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community tonight. I can only imagine the pain that they’re feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns (centre) with the state police minister (left) and and state police commissioner Photograph: Dean Lewins/ReutersShare

Updated at 18.13 CET

What we know about the victims

So far, very little information has come out about the identities of those killed and injured in the Bondi beach attack.

We know that 11 people were killed, and one of the gunmen is also dead. A second gunman is injured and in hospital, as are 29 victims, among them two police officers who were wounded while responding to the attack.

• London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, has been named as one of the victims, Jewish News reports. The father-of-five, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London. His first cousin, Brighton-based Rabbi Zalman Lewis, told Jewish News: “How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?”

• One Israeli citizen was among those killed, the Israeli foreign ministry said. It did not name the victim.

• The Jerusalem Post reported that one of its contributors, Arsen Ostrovsky, head of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Sydney office, was wounded in the attack.

Share

Opening summary

Throughout the night, Australians have been grieving a shocking attack on Jewish Australians on the country’s iconic Bondi beach.

Communities are still reeling. “This senseless attack is one which is an actor of terror,” prime minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday night. “My message to Jewish Australians is that your fellow Australians stand with you tonight in condemning this act of terror.”

• At least 11 people were killed and almost 30 wounded when gunmen fired on a Hanukah celebration on Bondi beach on Sunday, in what Australian police and officials described as a terrorist attack. One of the gunmen also died.

• London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, has been named as one of the victims of the Bondi beach terrorist attack. Jewish News reports that the father-of-five, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and had family members of Kinloss synagogue in Finchley.

• One Israeli citizen was also among those killed, the Israeli foreign ministry said.

• A number of “suspicious devices” have been found in the aftermath of the shooting where hundreds of people had gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event to celebrate the start of the Jewish festival on Sunday.

• A man who rushed to the scene to tackle one of the gunmen has two bullet wounds, one in his arm and one in his hand, but is recovering well in hospital, his relative said. Seven News reported the bystander was a 43-year-old fruit shop owner from the Sutherland Shire.

• British police will put more officers into Jewish communities after an antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi beach in Australia. Hanukah, the Jewish festival of lights also known as Chanukah, begins on Sunday evening, with celebrations planned across the UK in the coming days.

Share



SOURCE PAGE

12/14/2025December 14, 2025

Zelenskyy calls for ‘dignified’ peace as US envoys arrive in Berlin

Ahead of talks with US and European officials in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said it is critical that the negotiations deliver results.

“Ukraine needs peace on dignified terms, and we are ready to work as constructively as possible,” he wrote on X on Sunday.

“The coming days will be filled with diplomacy. It is critically important that it delivers results,” he added.

Earlier in his statement, he wrote that “hundreds of thousands of families are still without electricity in Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Dnipro regions” following Russian strikes.

“Russia is dragging out the war and seeks to inflict as much harm as possible on our people,” he wrote. “In total, the Russians launched more than 1,500 attack drones, nearly 900 guided aerial bombs, and 46 missiles of various types against Ukraine this week.”

Zelenskyy’s remarks came as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were reported to have arrived in Berlin for the talks.

SOURCE PAGE

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Harrowing footage from the Hanukkah shooting in Sydney, Australia, shows a bystander tackling and disarming one of the gunmen on Sunday.

The footage shows the bystander sneak up on the shooter as he is firing on victims off-screen. The man then tackled the shooter and wrenched the gun away from him. He then turned the weapon on the shooter, but did not fire.

The hero has been identified by Australian media as Ahmed al-Ahmad, 43. The man’s cousin, Mustafa al-Ahmad, told Australia’s News 7 that Ahmed was shot once in the arm and once in the shoulder. The injuries came when the second gunman fired on Ahmed after he tackled the first man.

“He’s a hero. One hundred percent a hero. Once we saw on social media, he’s one hundred percent a hero,” Mustafa told the outlet.

NBA CHAMPION CALLS ON OFFICIALS TO ‘PUBLICLY HANG’ AUSTRALIAN TERRORISTS AFTER ATTACK AT HANUKKAH EVENT

Emergency workers transport a person on a stretcher after a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.  (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Ahmed is currently in surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, according to Australian media.

Praise and gratitude poured in for Ahmed on social media as the footage of his takedown spread.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS HEAP BLAME ON AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AFTER BONDI BEACH SHOOTING: ‘COUNTLESS WARNING SIGNS’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the man as “brave” in a statement regarding the shooting. Netanyahu had initially stated that the man who intervened was a Jew, but that was before Ahmed was identified.

“We saw an action of a brave man–turns out a Muslim brave man, and I salute him–that stopped one of these terrorists from killing innocent Jews,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Ahmad al-Ahmed for saving lives in Sunday’s shooting. (JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Chris Minns, the premier of Australia’s New South Wales state, also hailed Ahmed as a hero.

“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery,” Minns said in a statement.

Sunday’s shooting killed at least 11 people and hospitalized at least 28. One of the gunmen was killed and the other remains in critical condition.

Emergency workers transport a person on a stretcher after a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Australian authorities have confirmed the attack targeted the Jewish community, which was celebrating the first day of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach.

Neither of the shooters have been identified.

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on X: @Hagstrom_Anders.

SOURCE PAGE

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Twelve people have died – including one suspected gunman – after a terrorist attack on Sydney’s Bondi Beach targeted Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah, police have confirmed.

A total of 29 people were injured in the mass shooting, including two police officers, after two attackers opened fire on crowds. A second suspected gunman is in a critical condition.

Mal Lanyon, New South Wales Police Commissioner, told a press conference in Sydney that he had declared the shooting a terrorist incident and officers were investigating if a third offender was involved. Homemade bombs were also discovered in a car near the scene.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, said the attack was “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism”.

“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith,” he added.

“An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation, an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated on this attack on our way of life.

“There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it.”

Terrified locals reported hearing “up to 50” gunshots in the Archer Park area at around 6.45pm local time, where up to 1,000 people had gathered for an event to celebrate the first day of the Jewish holiday.

The police warned members of the public to take shelter, before later reporting that two suspects had been captured.

open image in gallery

Twelve people have been killed, including one gunman, while dozens more have been taken to hospital (AP)

Horrifying footage shared on social media appears to show two shooters firing from a bridge at a beach carpark, while members of the public can be heard screaming.

Later clips appeared to show the two suspects pinned to the ground by police, with shot gun cartridges littered on the floor.

Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, said beachgoers dropped everything and sprinted towards safety after hearing the pop of gunfire.

“Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible,” he said.

Witness Harry Wilson, 30, told the Sydney Morning Herald he saw “saw at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere”.

Relatives paid tribute to British-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, who “loved helping people” after he was named as one of the victims. The father-of-five, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural centre, grew up in Temple Fortune, north London.

The 41-year-old and his wife, Chayala, are said to have celebrated the birth of their youngest child, a boy, two months ago.

His cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, from Brighton, told Jewish News: “How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?

“We can only respond by doing what Eli would have wanted, what he dedicated his life to – doing more mitzvot (good deeds) and to keep spreading positive energy.”

Larisa Kleytman revealed her husband of five decades, Alex, was tragically killed while trying to protect her as the shots rang out.

The couple, who travelled from Matraville to celebrate Hanukkah, were in the crowd when Mrs Kletyman heard the “boom boom” of gunfire. They have two children and 11 grandchildren.

“I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me, in the back of the head,” she told the Daily Mail.

open image in gallery

A bystander has been hailed as a hero after he tackled the gunman (Reuters/Social Media)

Separate footage captured the moment a heroic bystander – named by local media as 43-year-old fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed – wrestled a rifle out of the hands of one of the alleged shooters.

The man leapt out from behind a car and tackled the gunman from behind, eventually pulling the firearm from his hands and turning it on the suspected attacker.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, hailed him as a “genuine hero” as he described the footage as “unbelievable”.

“A man walking up to 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.

“That man is a genuine hero and I’ve no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”

Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott also commended the bystander’s actions as he condemned the “absolute atrocity”.

“There should be no place in Australia for the kind of evil we’ve seen this evening,” he said.

“Thank God one bystander heroically intervened showing the good side of our country. I am praying for all those affected at this time.”

open image in gallery

A woman cradles a child in a blanket after the Bondi beach shooting (AFP via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for New South Wales Ambulance said more than 40 crews, including helicopter and road crews, had treated multiple casualties and taken them to hospital.

A total of 29 people are being treated at hospitals in Sydney, with some in a serious condition. The wounded police officers’ condition was described as “serious, verging on critical” and both were in surgery, Commissioner Lanyon said.

Homemade bombs were also found in a car linked to the deceased gunman. The police chief added: “Shortly after the shooting occurred, police located a vehicle in Campbell Parade at Bondi, which we believe has several improvised explosive devices.

“We have our rescue bomb disposal unit there at the moment working on that.”

Mr Lanyon said that the deceased offender had been known to the authorities, but there had been no “specific threat”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry told Sky News that the shooting happened at an event at the beach celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which began at sundown.

“This is the Jewish community at its best coming together to mark a happy occasion. 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,” he said, adding his media adviser had been wounded in the attack.

open image in gallery

Beachgoers fled after hearing the ‘pop pop’ of gunfire (UGC/AFP via Getty Images)

The UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer reacted the to the “deeply distressing news” in a post on X, adding: “Chanukah should be a time of celebration and joy. The news that the Bondi beach attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event is sickening.”

King Charles, who visited Bondi Beach in 2012, said he and the Queen were “appalled” by the attack.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected so dreadfully, including the police officers who were injured while protecting members of their community,” he added.

“We commend the police, emergency services and members of the public whose heroic actions no doubt prevented even greater horror and tragedy.

“In times of hurt, Australians always rally together in unity and resolve. I know that the spirit of community and love that shines so brightly in Australia – and the light at the heart of the Chanukah festival – will always triumph over the darkness of such evil.”

The Metropolitan Police is increasing its visibility in Jewish communities ahead of any Hanukkah events in the wake of the attack, the mayor of London has said.

In a post on X, Sadiq Khan said: “My thoughts and condolences – along with the rest of London – are with everyone affected by the horrific attack at Bondi Beach, Australia today.”

SOURCE PAGE

NEED TO KNOW

• A “person of interest” is in custody in relation to the shooting at Brown University that left at least two people dead and nine others injured on Dec. 13
• The gunman’s identity has not yet been made public, nor have any charges
• A shelter-in-place order for the Rhode Island college has been lifted as of Dec. 14

Editor’s note: This story has been revised to clarify that authorities have labeled the person detained as a “person of interest” and they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the shooting. They have not yet at this time labeled him a “suspect.”  

A “person of interest” is in police custody following the deadly mass shooting at Brown University.

PEOPLE can confirm that the Providence Police Department (PPD) has detained the individual in connection with the tragedy, which left at least two people dead and nine others injured.

Josh Estrella, the communications director for the mayor of Providence, tells PEOPLE that the shelter-in-place order for the Rhode Island college has also been lifted.

According to NBC News, the person of interest, a man, had “a unique characteristic” on the gun allegedly used in the shooting. The weapon was found when he was taken into custody, the outlet reported.

The individual’s identity has not yet been made public, nor have any charges. Col. Oscar Perez, the chief of police in Providence, said during a Dec. 14 press conference, per NBC News, that authorities are not searching for any other perpetrators.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Brown University.

Getty

Brown, an Ivy League school, first announced that there was an active shooter near Barus & Holley, a computer lab and engineering building on campus, shortly after 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Shortly after, officials falsely stated that a suspect was in custody, but said in a follow-up alert minutes later that no suspects had been apprehended.

Police previously provided a description of the person of interest, saying he was “a male dressed in black,” and later released security footage of the man believed to be the shooter.

Commander Timothy O’Hara said it is “unknown” how the individual entered the building where the shooting took place, but police had been “utilizing every resource possible” to find the perpetrator.

Brown University after the shooting on Dec. 13.

Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty 

Of the nine people injured in the incident, one was in critical condition, six were in critical but stable condition and two were stabilized, a Brown University Health spokesperson said, per NBC News. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley later said in a news conference on Dec. 14 that one person had been discharged, according to the outlet.

The identities of the deceased and injured have yet to be made public as of Dec. 14.

Despite the shelter-in-place order being lifted, Brown said in a message on its website, “Police activity continues in areas that are still considered an active crime scene.”

“Be advised that access to these areas of campus continues to be limited,” the school continued, adding that “community members who leave those buildings will be unable to return.”

University President Christina H. Paxson described the tragedy as “a day that no university community is ever prepared for.”

SOURCE PAGE

By CAMERON CARPENTER, DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA

Published: 06:21 EST, 14 December 2025 | Updated: 11:00 EST, 14 December 2025

A bloodied and bandaged man who lived through October 7 has said he never thought he’d see the same terror come to Australia – after he survived by a ‘miracle’ when two men opened fire on Bondi beach.

Arsen Ostrovsky, an international human rights lawyer, was out with his family amongst hundreds of other people when 12 festival goers were killed and dozens more injured.

He has now told of his narrow survival after also living through the horrors of Hamas’s Israel massacre.

Mr Ostrovsky said: ‘I lived through October 7th. Never imagined I’d see this horror in Australia.

‘Bullet grazed my head. Doctors said it was a miracle I survived, but I will make a recovery.’

Earlier, he told 9News: ‘Children, kids at a festival, playing and then all of a sudden it’s absolute chaos. There’s gunfire, everywhere, people ducking, it was absolute chaos.

‘We didn’t know what was happening, where the gunfire was coming from.’

He said he had lived in Israel for 13 years and survived the October 7, 2023 attacks. 

‘We’ve lived through worse, we’re gonna get through this, and we’re going to get the bastards who did this,’ he said. 

‘I saw at least one gunman … firing randomly and in all directions.

‘I saw children fall to the floor, I saw elderly, I saw invalids, it was an absolute bloodbath.

Arsen Ostrovsky was caught up in the horrific shooting

‘October 7, that’s the last time I saw this. I never thought I’d see this in Australia, not in my lifetime, on Bondi Beach of all places, this iconic place.’ 

At least 12 people have died, including children and at least 29 injured after the horrific attack. 

A Jewish festival, Chanukah by the Sea, advertised as a night of family fun, was taking place, with children attending the event when the gunmen opened fire.

Witnesses said two men stepped out of a vehicle on Campbell Parade, near Bondi Pavilion, and opened fire about 6.40pm on Sunday with footage showing blast after blast on the tourist strip. Some witnesses reported more than 30 shots.

A number of people could be seen lying injured and unmoving on grass at North Bondi. 

Others were loaded into ambulances on stretchers while onlookers attempted to provide support. 

People on the ground reported panic, confusion and disbelief as chaos continued to unfold with emergency services on the scene.

One of the gunmen was shot dead by police. The other one was shot, and is in custody.  

Police later said they were working to disarm what they have described as an improvised explosive device.

‘A number of suspicious items located in the vicinity are being examined by specialist officers and an exclusion zone is in place,’ NSW Police said in a statement at 9pm.

Co-chief of the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin described the incident as ‘our worst fear realised’.

‘It’s a family event, a beautiful event every year,’ he told Sky News.

‘If this is what we think it is, it is our worst fear realised… if we were targeted it’s something of a scale none of us could ever imagine.’

Share or comment on this article:
Bloodied and bandaged Bondi beach terror attack victim declares ‘I lived through Oct 7th. Never imagined I’d see this horror in Australia’

SOURCE PAGE

Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn has explained she ‘ran for her life’ as armed terrorists opened fire on Bondi Beach, which has seen dozens injured and 12 people dead

Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor

15:28, 14 Dec 2025Updated 15:32, 14 Dec 2025

Lauren Dunn said she ‘ran for her life’(Image: Nine)

A Married At First Sight star “ran for her life” during the Bondi Beach terror attack. Lauren Dunn, who appeared on the show last year, only recently moved to the area.

Earlier today, over 1,000 people were attending an event on the beach to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Two gunmen opened fire from a small bridge, crossing from a car park and heading towards the beach. New South Wales police responded to reports of gunfire at around 18:47 local time (7:47am GMT), with hundreds of people fleeing from the scene.

It has since been confirmed that at least 12 people, including London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, have been killed. One of the offenders has been killed, while the second remains in custody.

A heroic bystander, Ahmed al Ahemd, 43, was seen rushing to confront one gunman and eventually disarmed him. Lauren, 37, has now explained that she had headed out of her flat to grab food on what was supposed to have been a chill night.

READ MORE: Bondi Beach shooting updates as 11 killed by gunmen firing on Jewish festivalREAD MORE: Kylie Minogue breaks silence on Bondi Beach mass shootingLauren Dunn has spoken out after being close to the tragic terror attack in Bondi BeachThe TV star had popped out to grab some food

At first, she heard what she believed to be a car backfiring, which was nothing out of the ordinary. “Then people started running and screaming, and the police shouted for everyone to get inside,” she said.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she added that she “ran for her life” and saw countless people running from the festival on the beach, which included children petting “fluffy animals”. Despite Lauren making it back to her apartment, some of her friends were not as fortunate.

She said that a group chat with friends was flooded with videos from the scene, which showed “dead bodies everywhere.” Lauren watched from her balcony as helicopters started to circle the beach, as a warning from loudspeakers urged people to stay indoors. She added: “It’s so disgusting, it’s people just living their lives. I can’t believe this has happened here.

“In the US, you see it every week. You don’t ever expect to see it in Bondi.” One of the shooters has since been identified as Naveed Akram after police raided his home in Western Sydney.

Australia’s government has declared the incident to be terror related(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Around 29 people, including two police officers, have been injured and rushed to hospitals across Sydney. Suspicious items had also been found in the area, including an improvised explosive device.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a press conference: “I very sadly need to report that, as of now, there are at least 12 individuals that have been killed.

“One of the offenders has also been killed and one is in custody. This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, what should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”

New South Wales Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyan, told a press conference that the incident had been declared as a terrorist incident and police now have special powers to investigate the possibility of a third offender.

He said: “At about 6.47pm this evening, police started to receive a number of reports of shots fired at Archer Park at Bondi. Archer Park is a grassed area just north of the Bondi pavilion. Police responded promptly.

“Unfortunately, at least 12 people are deceased at this time, 29 people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers.

“The condition of those officers and the other transported are serious, but there is a range of conditions. Our thoughts, prayers and love go to all the families and all of those that were involved tonight, we know that there were many people there to celebrate a happy occasion, the celebration of Hannukah.

“And there was well over 1,000 people there when this took place. As a result of the circumstances of the incident tonight I declared this to be a terrorist incident.”

SOURCE PAGE