Nearly a dozen people, including one shooter, are confirmed to be dead after gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported, citing a police spokesperson.
A further 12 people were injured at the beach where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, the ABC reported.
Gunmen opened fire just after 6.30 p.m. as hundreds of people attended the Chanukah by the Sea event to celebrate the start of the Jewish festival, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The ABC showed footage of two black-clad gunmen firing on people from a footbridge near the beach, and several people being treated by police and paramedics.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the scenes from Bondi "are shocking and distressing.”
Speaking at an event recognizing the extraordinary achievements of immigrants to Israel at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the shooting was a "cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach.”
Australian officials have not confirmed the motivation of the shooters or who they were targeting.
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