At least 10 people shot in mass shooting on a Hanukkah party in Sydney, Australia.
By World Israel News Staff
At least three people were killed and seven wounded Sunday in a mass shooting on a Hanukkah celebration in the Bondi Beach area of Sydney, Australia, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The attack began just before 7:00 p.m. local time, with reports of dozens of shots fired.
Video footage from the incident shows two gunmen, dressed in black, firing shots in a parking lot near the Bondi Pavilion.
Panic-stricken partygoers fled the pavilion during the shooting before police officers arrived on scene.
The New South Wales Police Force confirmed that there was a “developing incident” at Bondi Beach, adding that two people had been arrested at the scene.
“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.”
“We thought it was fireworks, but it wasn’t it was something much worse,” Elizabeth Mealey, a witness who was dining at a nearby restaurant, told ABC Australia.
According to a report by Sky News, some 2,000 people had gathered near the scene of the shooting for a Hanukkah celebration, organized by the local Chabad branch, which New South Wales Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane had been slated to address.
One member of the Jewish community said there was “mass panic” at the Hanukkah celebration, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
“This is a Chabad-organized event mainly for parents with young children. From what I understand, there’s great fear. Everyone was pushed further up the beach for safety. Australians aren’t used to events like this.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the shooting “deeply distressing,” while a spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the premier was monitoring the situation.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the “cruel attack” and called on Canberra to “fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.”
“At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach.”
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