At Least 15 Killed, Including Chabad Shluchim, Dozens Wounded in Terror Attack on Australia Chanukkah Celebration

A terror attack was perpetrated Sunday afternoon in New South Wales, Australia, at a Chanukah celebration organized by a local Chabad.

At least 15 people were killed, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger Hy’d and Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitin Hy’d, Chabad shluchim in Bondi Beach, where the attack occured. Other murdered victims included a 12-year-old, a 10-year-old boy, and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, of Ukraine.

Unconfirmed reports place the number of wounded at around 25, including two children.

One of the terrorists was reportedly killed as well, and another is in serious condition. The shooting began after a speech was given by one of the organizers, according to Ynet.

Police confirmed to the Daily Mail that the terrorist who was eliminated was 24-year-old Naveed Akram, a Pakistani man who lived in Bonnyrigg, Sydney. The other terrorist(s) were not identified as of yet.

Australian outlet 9NEWS reports that it appears that a third terrorist was arrested.

One of the wounded is Arsen Ostrovsky, a prominent pro-Israel human rights lawyer, head of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council’s Sydney office, and social media influencer. He shared an image of himself covered in blood during the attack.

The event was attended by over 1,000 people, Australian police said.

Eyewitnesses on social media reported hearing up to 50 gunshots.

Survivors told Ynet that it took 15 minutes for police to arrive.

One survivor, Chaim Levy, who had attended the event with his children, told Ynet: “It was an event organized by Chabad on the beach, and 400 people came to light the menorah, like we do every year. Suddenly we heard explosions, and we didn’t know what it was. I grabbed my son, we hid behind a car until the shooting stopped, and then we ran to our car. My wife and the child ran to another place, without shoes, we just ran. We left strollers and bags there. We are in shock.”

Sean Goodwin told Australian media that the shooting lasted about ten long minutes. “It was hell on earth. I was protecting my family, I saw people lying in pools of blood.”

Another attended told the Sydney Morning Herald that he saw two small children begging for help from underneath a car, where their mother was laying after being shot twice. “I had to apply pressure to the impact sites for about 20 minutes. These were big wounds. Then paramedics took over. It was 45 minutes before the ambulance arrived. It was like a war zone,” he said.

Shai, an Israeli who lives in the Bondi Beach area, told Ynet, “It was expected. The level of daily hatred towards Jews here is not normal.”

“I don’t want to be the one to say this, but we all said it was just a matter of time, and certain politicians told us we were hysterical and exaggerating,” another community member said.

Video of a man wrestling a shotgun away from one of the terrorists was published on social media; he was later identified as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed. He suffered two gunshot wounds and required surgery.

Video footage released on social media shows two assailants on the ground in police custody surrounded by shotgun casings, as a man who had visited the beach proceeds to kick one of the suspects.

US Secretary Marco Rubio condemned the attack. He wrote: “The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration.Antisemitism has no place in this world. Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.”

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani issued a statement condemning the attack, calling it a “vile act of antisemitic terror,” while expressing sympathy for the victims and the wider Jewish community. Mamdani said, “I mourn those who were murdered and will be keeping their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers. May the memories of all those killed be a blessing.” Mamdani has continuously defended rhetoric tied to terrorism, such as “globalize the intifada,” and rejects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

The New York Times, BBC and other major outlets omitted any mention of the attack targeting Jews until hours later, even though it was a widely publicized and annual Chanukah celebration.

Media reports showed a blood-soaked pair of tzitzis belonging to a victim, who was able to walk after being struck at the scene. Separate footage showed paramedics administering CPR on a different victim.

Police issued an urgent warning for the public to avoid the area and for those nearby to take shelter immediately.

Social media posts from the scene describe mass chaos, with people fleeing the promenade and seeking cover in nearby businesses, as dozens of police vehicles swarm on the scene.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese first described the scenes as”shocking and distressing,” but made no mention of the victims being Jewish or that the attack was at a Jewish event. Other officials who spoke on Australia media said that the shooters targeted families that had gathered at the beach, but also made no mention of their Jewish identity.

Hours after the attack, Albanese addressed the country in a televised statement acknowledging that the attack was antisemitic. “This afternoon, there has been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi, at the ‘Chanukkah by the Sea’ celebration. This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Chanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. It is an act of evil, antisemitism, and 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,” he said. “As Prime Minister, I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community: we stand with you, we embrace you, and we reaffirm tonight that you have every right to be proud of who you are and what you believe.”

Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog said: “We have repeatedly warned the Australian government about the need to root out the criminal and widespread anti-Semitism in their country.”

In the wake of the attack, ZAKA is organizing to send a delegation with logistical equipment to the scene. “ZAKA is in continuous coordination with the leadership of the Jewish community and with emergency agencies and local authorities. The delegation will operate and assist in treating the deceased with dignity, identifying the deceased and accompanying the families during this difficult time,” the organization said.

Police discovered one of the weapons used by the terrorists, pictured above.

Footage of the celebration was taken before the shooting, showing families enjoying the event, with doughnuts being handed out and music playing.

Since the October 7 massacre, antisemitism in Australia has surged sharply, transforming what was once viewed as a relatively safe environment for Jewish life into a place many now describe as hostile and dangerous.

According to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s latest data, there were 1,654 documented anti-Jewish incidents from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, roughly three times the number recorded in the decade before October 7 and far exceeding pre-attack levels.

Incidents have ranged from widespread vandalism and graffiti on cars and Jewish property, to doxxing of nearly 600 Jewish Australians, firebombing of a childcare centre, and arson attacks on synagogues, including the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne.

The following is a partial list of victims’ names for davening: Feivel Eliezer ben Dobra Bella, Yaakov ben Etel, Chaya Mushka bas Shterna Sara, Reuven ben Manya and Yaakov Dov ben Penina, for a refuah shlaima b’soch sha’ar cholei Yisrael.