Father and Son Behind Bondi Jewish Festival Shooting That Killed 15, Australian Police Say |
REUTERS—Two alleged gunmen who killed 15 people at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach were a father and son, police said on Monday.
The father, a 50-year-old, was killed at the scene, taking the number of dead to 16, while his 24-year-old son was in a critical condition in hospital, police said at a press conference on Monday. Officials have described Sunday’s shooting as a targeted antisemitic attack.
Forty people remain in hospital following the attack, including two police officers who are in a serious but stable condition, police said. The victims were aged between 10 and 87.
Witnesses said the attack at the famed beach, which was packed on a hot evening, lasted about 10 minutes, sending hundreds of people scattering along the sand and into nearby streets.
Police said around 1,000 people had attended the targeted Hanukkah event, which was held in a small park off the beach.
President Donald Trump called the attack “horrible” and “purely antisemitic.”
? PRESIDENT TRUMP: "We're here to celebrate Christmas and today – we can say LOUDLY, we celebrate Hanukkah. Because that was a horrible, purely antisemitic attack." pic.twitter.com/dRj88EXRCP
“Please say a prayer for all of the victims of the terrible terrorist attack in Australia. May their memory be a blessing,” posted Vice President JD Vance on X.
Wishing all of my Jewish friends in America a very Happy Hanukkah as they begin their celebration this evening.
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