Mass Shooting at Chanukah Event in Bondi Beach Leaves Multiple Dead and Injured
A mass shooting at a Chanukah event in the Sydney, Australia suburb of Bondi Beach has left multiple dead and injured, after gunmen opened fire during a public celebration marking the first night of Hanukkah.
The event, organized by Chabad of Bondi, was taking place near the children’s playground at Bondi Beach Park and included a public menorah lighting and family activities. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the shooting began just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 (11:30pm Saturday, Dec. 13 Los Angeles time) killing 10 people and wounding several others. Police said two suspects were taken into custody, though authorities said the operation was ongoing and urged the public to avoid the area and follow police directions.
Jeremy Leibler, who leads the Zionist Federation of Australia, said roughly 2,000 people from the Jewish community were at the gathering. One of the victims has been reported by several local news outlets as Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
The celebration had been promoted in advance as “Chanukah by the Sea.” An Instagram story posted by Chabad of Bondi advertised the event as beginning at 5:00 p.m. local time, and a flyer listed the location as “Bondi Beach Park – Near the Children’s Playground.” The flyer promoted “live entertainment, interactive Chanukah activities, music games & fun for all ages, grand menorah lighting overlooking Bondi Beach,” and invited the public: “Come celebrate the light of Chanukah together with the community. Bring your friends, bring the family, let’s fill Bondi with Joy and Light.”
Video footage appears to show a civilian approaching one of the shooters from behind and forcibly removing his long gun. Another video reviewed shows police arresting a suspect, during which one person on the scene appears to stomp the suspect in the head as officers place him in handcuffs.
The Australian Jewish Association posted a video to its X account showing two men being apprehended by police, with the caption: “Bondi Beach Man appears to stomp on a suspected terrorist. How many times did we warn the Government? We never felt once that they listened. Tragic but no surprise.”
In a public statement, the New South Wales Police Force said, “Two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach; however, the police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area. Please obey ALL police directions. Do not cross police lines.”
A mass shooting at a Chanukah event in the Sydney, Australia suburb of Bondi Beach has left multiple dead and injured, after gunmen opened fire during a
jewishjournal.com
www.foxnews.com
