Australia has signalled plans to tighten gun laws following its deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, after a father and son killed 15 people at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Authorities said the 50-year-old father was shot dead by police at the scene, bringing the total death toll to 16, while his 24-year-old son remains in critical condition in hospital. The attack left 40 people injured, including two police officers who are in serious but stable condition. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
The shooting occurred during a Hanukkah event attended by about 1,000 people at the popular beach on a crowded weekend evening, triggering panic as crowds fled along the sand and into surrounding streets. Witnesses said the attack lasted around 10 minutes.
Police confirmed the father held a firearms licence since 2015 and owned six registered weapons. Video footage from the scene showed the attackers using what appeared to be a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun. Authorities said one of the suspects was previously known to security agencies but had not been considered an immediate threat.
Although police did not officially name the attackers, Australian media identified them as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the father arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, while the son was Australian-born.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Cabinet would consider stricter limits on the number of firearms allowed per licence and review how long gun licences remain valid. “People’s circumstances can change. People can be radicalised over time. Licences should not be in perpetuity,” he said.
The attack has intensified scrutiny of Australia’s gun control framework, already regarded as among the toughest globally, and reignited debate over whether further reforms are needed.
A bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the attackers before being wounded has been hailed as a hero. The man, identified by local media as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old shop owner, was shot twice and underwent surgery. A fundraising campaign for him raised more than A$550,000 within a day.
Authorities described the shooting as an act of terrorism and antisemitism, the most serious incident in a series of antisemitic attacks across Australia since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. Albanese said Australia would “do whatever is necessary” to combat antisemitism and support the Jewish community.
Mass shootings are rare in Australia, with Sunday’s attack the worst since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which prompted sweeping national gun reforms.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
