Bondi beach shooting live updates: Australian PM condemns ‘act of evil’ after 11 killed in terror attack – UK Times

Two men who are alleged to be the gunmen in the mass shooting at Bondi beach have been pictured by media.

In images and videos shown on Sky News, the alleged shooters appear to be holding guns.

An Israeli citizen was among those killed in the Bondi beach shooting attack, the Israeli foreign ministry has said.

A 12-year-old girl and a rabbi are among those killed in the mass shooting at Bondi beach, a senior figure within the Jewish community has told CNN.

Alexander Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told the broadcaster: “I know everyone who was there (at the Hanukkah celebration). That’s an event where I attend with my family every single year,” adding that he only did not this year due to diary conflicts.

Ryvchin told the broadcaster that a rabbi is among the dead, describing him as “one of the kindest and most beautiful human beings I’ve ever known”.

He also told CNN that one of his friends “lost his 12-year-old daughter, who succumbed to her wounds in hospital”.

“We’re a very close knit community, and this event is kind of the gem of our year. It’s something we look forward to every year,” he said.

“The fact that it’s turned into a blood bath, the fact that people plotted, acquired weapons, came there knowing that there would be children there, that there would be elderly people, families, defenseless people, just gathered there in peace, and they slaughtered them in cold blood. This is something that will transform our country.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Jews gathering to celebrate life have yet again been met by death meted out by evil terrorists. We pray for the families of those who have been taken from us in Australia, and for the recovery of those fighting for their lives.

“When people call to ‘globalise the intifada’, this is what they are calling for: dead Jews, terrorism and families shattered forever.

“As the horrific news broke, we were immediately reminded of one atrocity after another, from the Yom Kippur attack in Manchester to the Simchat Torah attack on October 7 in Israel.

“For many Jews, this is increasingly what the world feels like – a place where we are either being vilified, or slaughtered, or sent thoughts and prayers, but never protected.

“The West must stand unequivocally against the evil ideology that wrought this massacre, not just in word but in deed. The guns that today slaughter Jews will tomorrow turn on others.”

A Briton has said he was in his apartment when he heard what he thought were fireworks going off – before seeing people being shot down outside his window.

When he went to his window to see what was going on, Fin Green told the BBC he saw a man “letting shots off” from on top of a white car.

Mr Green told the broadcaster he saw people “running and screaming”, sprinting towards his building to take shelter.

He said he quickly shut his blinds and rushed to hide in his wardrobe.

An eyewitness has described “a bunch of pops” as he was walking to meet friends to go surfing.

Nico, who is from the US but has lived in Bondi for half a year, told the BBC he then saw people running and his reaction was: “Just run.”

He said the shots “felt really close” and it felt like they were firing for an “eternity”.

A man who survived Hamas’ 7 October attack in Israel is reportedly among those injured in the mass shooting at Bondi beach.

Describing the attack as “a bloodbath, it was an absolute massacre”, he told Australian outlet 9News: “I was here with my family, it was a Hanukkah celebration, there were hundreds of people, there were children, there were elderly, families enjoying themselves.”

Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has said he was among the people who fled Bondi beach during the mass shooting.

Vaughan, who is in Australia covering the ongoing Ashes series, said in a post on social media: “Being locked in a restaurant in Bondi was scary. Now home safe.

“But thanks so much to the emergency services and the guy who confronted the terrorist.

“Thoughts with all who have been affected.”

The United States “strongly condemns” the attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on Sunday.

“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,” Rubio wrote in a post on X.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, said “our community is once again mourning”.

“I’m on my way to a Chanukah event. It should be a celebration, but instead our community is once again mourning,” he said.

“I will be thinking of everyone in Australia and those around the world in the Jewish Community who know this fear and loss.”