Pak‑Sponsored Terror Hits Australian Shores: 15 Killed, Dozens Injured In Bondi Beach Gun Rampage | All You Need To Know

New Delhi: For decades, Pakistan-sponsored terror networks have spread violence far beyond South Asia, threatening peace across borders and continents. The terrifying shadow has now struck the Australian soil as a brutal gun shooting on Sunday at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach by a Pakistan-origin gunman has left 15 people dead and dozens injured. The massacre was a targeted attack on the Jewish community during a holy religious celebration, according to the Australian authorities, who have classified it as a terrorist attack.  

The deadly mass shooting has once again exposed Pakistan's terror factory, this time raising global concerns about the extent of terror networks' global reach and how radicalized people might commit acts of violence far from their home countries. As Australia grieves one of its bloodiest mass shootings in decades, investigators are looking into all connections and backgrounds.

Why Pakistan Is Being Named

One of the gunmen charged in the Bondi Beach shooting has been named as Naveed Akram, a 24-year-old man originally from Lahore, Pakistan, according to sources. Akram was shot during the incident and is currently being treated by emergency services at a hospital.

His driver's license photo has surfaced, and it features him sporting a Pakistan cricket jersey. According to the license, Akram was living in Bonnyrigg, Sydney. As part of the inquiry, police are currently conducting a raid on his home. Akram was also seen with a gun at the crime scene in a camera.

According to additional sources, Akram attended Sydney's Al-Murad Institute. As part of the terror investigation, authorities are looking into his background, whereabouts, and potential connections. The discovery of a suspect with Pakistani ancestry has brought Pakistan-sponsored terrorism back into sharp spotlight, even if officials have not yet disclosed all the details of any larger network.

What Happened At Bondi Beach

What began as an enjoyable public celebration of faith turned into chaos and bloodshed on Sunday evening when gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. 15 people, including one of the alleged shooters, were killed, and at least 40 others, including two police officers, were injured in the attack, which happened at a Hanukkah party at around 6:30 p.m. local time.

After a sweltering summer day, the well-known tourist beach was packed with locals, visitors, and families. Hundreds of people were gathered for a community event when shots were fired, causing people to run for their lives.

One of the alleged assailants was shot and killed at the site, according to police, while the other gunman was taken into custody and is still in serious condition at the hospital. Additionally, investigators are looking into the possibility that a third attacker was involved.

Terrorist Attack Targeting Jewish Community

The mass shooting has been officially labeled a "terrorist attack" by the police. According to Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, the attack was directed at the Jewish community in Australia.

“I can assure the community that it will be met with a massive police and public order response,” Minns said. He added, “Our heart bleeds for Australia's Jewish community tonight…It is the responsibility of all Australians to wrap their arms around Australia's Jewish community and help them get through this incredibly difficult period.”

According to authorities, the act was classified as terror due to its targeted nature and the weaponry employed.

‘No Place For Terrorism in Australia’: PM Albanese

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as “shocking and distressing.”

He said, “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated about this attack on our way of life.” He added, “There is no place for this hate, violence, and terrorism in our nation, and let me be clear, we will eradicate it. Amidst this vile act of violence and hate will emerge a moment of national unity.”

What Is Hanukkah And Why The Event Mattered

The incident happened on the first night of Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish holiday that honors hope, faith, and resiliency. "Hanukkah by the Sea" was the name of the event that Chabad of Bondi organized at Bondi Beach.

The event, which featured live entertainment, music, games, and activities for all ages, was set to begin at 5:00 p.m. near the beach's children's playground, according to a digital flyer that NBC News referenced. The yearly event, which is intended to be a happy and family-oriented celebration, drew over 1,000 attendees.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, hundreds of people were gathered for the beachfront celebration when the shooters began firing shortly after 6:30 p.m. The magazine was informed by one participant that the shooters arbitrarily targeted the elderly and children. Images from the scene showed individuals giving the injured CPR.

Timeline Of The Attack

According to New South Wales Police, authorities were first notified of reports of gunfire at around 6:47 pm local time (07:47 GMT). Bondi Beach and its surroundings were still crowded at the time.

At least two shooters with long guns were captured on camera firing from a pedestrian footbridge that connected Campbell Parade to the beach. Crowds dispersed across the dunes, grassy hills, and surrounding streets as gunfire erupted, leaving behind shoes, luggage, and even strollers for young children.

The shooting, according to witnesses, lasted for many minutes. "I was just getting ready to go home, and then I started hearing the shots," Bondi Junction homeowner Marcos Carvalho, 38, told Reuters. In a panic, we all began to flee. We simply ran up the hill. I don't know, maybe forty or fifty rounds. I must have heard.

Chilean student Camilo Diaz, 25, said, "It was shocking, it felt like 10 minutes of just bang, bang, bang." It appeared to be a potent weapon.

Grace Mathew, another witness, told Reuters, "At first, you just think, it's a beautiful day down by the beach." Then more individuals rushed by, shouting that there was a shooter, that there was a mass shooting, and that people were being killed.

Bystander’s Heroic Action

Amid the horror, an act of bravery stood out. One of the gunmen was tackled by a civilian. The act was caught on video and widely shared online. In the video, a man wearing a white T-shirt tackles a shooter, disarms him, turns the weapon on him, and then puts it down while the assailant retreats.

"That man is a genuine hero, and I've got no doubt there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery," NSW Premier Chris Minns said in praising the deed.

Additionally, "ordinary citizens who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen" were praised as "heroes" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Casualties And Victims

At least 29 people, including two police officers who were shot during the incident, were sent to the hospital, according to NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. Twelve people, including one of the gunmen, were confirmed dead by the authorities.

According to the Associated Press, Chabad reported that Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a major organizer of the Hanukkah celebration, was among those slain.

While paramedics were seen tending to injured victims on the grass with a view of the shore, a witness informed AFP that he spotted "six dead or wounded people lying on the beach." Later, a pump-action shotgun-like weapon was spotted by a tree close to the beach.

Probe And Security Response

Suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) discovered in a car connected to the deceased suspect were among the suspicious items police claimed they were investigating. While specialized teams scoured the area, an exclusion zone was established around Bondi Beach, and a bomb disposal squad was sent.

According to Mike Burgess, Australia's head of domestic intelligence, officials were aware of one of the alleged assailants, but they had not determined that they posed an urgent threat. Burgess stated that authorities would now investigate "what happened," saying, "One of these individuals was known to us but not from an immediate threat perspective," according to Reuters.

World Leaders Condemn The Attack

Prime Minister Albanese convened an emergency meeting of the national security council and said, “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.”

He added, “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Jews who had gathered to light the first Hanukkah candle were attacked by “vile terrorists.” He said, “The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment,” and urged Australian authorities to fight what he called an “enormous wave of antisemitism.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Australia’s government of having fuelled anti-Jewish sentiment in the period leading up to the shooting. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was “appalled” and warned that Australia must “come to its senses.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “ghastly terrorist attack,” while Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was being updated on the “appalling attack.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “Antisemitism has no place in this world.”

Devastating Mass Shooting

Australia has some of the tightest gun control laws in the world, which makes mass shootings incredibly unusual. Since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which claimed 35 lives and prompted extensive gun control legislation, the Bondi Beach incident is the deadliest shooting in the nation.

An attack of this magnitude in such a prominent and public setting is nearly unique, according to officials. Australia is still on edge as investigations continue, struggling with loss, rage, and difficult questions about how terror reached one of its most famous beaches amid a time of celebration and faith.