A child is one of at least 16 people killed in a terrorist attack at one of the world’s most famous beaches.
Hundreds of people had gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney for an event to celebrate the first day of Chanukah, when two gunmen opened fire.
At least 16 people are dead and 42 others injured in a terrorist attack authorities say was designed to target the Jewish community. Those affected range in age from 10 to 87.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child.
Three other children are being treated in hospital, Mr Park said.
“We have 16 people who have now passed away, including a child at Sydney Children’s Hospital. We had four patients transferred to that hospital,” Mr Park told Nine News.
“This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community, but for Australians. What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity.”
The family of Rabbi Eli Schlanger have confirmed he was one of the people killed in the attack.
Two police officers are also believed to be injured.
Police are in the process of informing the families of the victims as federal and state law enforcement launch an investigation into the incident.
Prime Minister condemned the ambush on a Jewish festival late on Sunday night, after meeting with the National Security Cabinet.
“The evil that was unleashed at Bondi Beach today is beyond comprehension, and the trauma and loss that families are dealing with tonight is beyond anyone’s worst nightmare,” Mr Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
“Our first thoughts are with those in the terrible early hours of their grief.”
Families sat in the halls of St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney’s east on Sunday as they waited for updates.
One of the gunmen, a 24 year old, is in a serious condition in custody and is expected to face court after police raided a house at Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest. The other gunman, a 50 year old man and licenced gun holder, and father of the other gunman, was killed at the scene. The six firearms used in the shooting were legally owned by the father.
A bomb disposal unit was deployed when a number of improvised explosive devices were found in a vehicle linked to the dead shooter, and police were investigating the possibility of a third gunman.
But Australia’s policing and intelligence agencies have faced some criticism over their response to the shooting.
Witnesses recalled the shooting lasting for five minutes before police intervened, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation acknowledged one of the alleged gunmen was known to them, though he was not seen as an immediate threat.
ASIO has since committed to reviewing the issue and searching for others who might be plotting similar attacks, though its director general stressed there was no indication anyone else in the community had a similar intent.
The shooting has officially been declared a terrorist incident, which will allow ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and its state counterpart to deploy special powers as it investigates the shooting.
World leaders reacted to the shooting, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog saying the “heart of the entire nation … misses a beat at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives”.
King Charles III said he was “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful anti-Semitic terrorist attack” and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia”.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said he had spoken with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in a call overnight.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his past criticism of Mr Albanese, saying he had warned the Australian government in August that its “policy was promoting and encouraging anti-Semitism in Australia”.
“Anti-Semitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent; it retreats when leaders act. I call upon you to replace weakness with action, appeasement with resolve,” Mr Netanyahu said.
A security guard at the scene of the mass shooting on Sunday, named only as Vlaj, recalled the chaotic aftermath.
“The shooting was going on four, five minutes non-stop, probably 50, 60 gunshots,” he told Sky News.
“I was just covering bodies because there were people dead everywhere.
“It was not just (any) people, it was people that I know.”
Premier Chris Minns urged people to donate blood and praised the the work of emergency responders, hospitals, and bystanders who helped to deal with the event.
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