New South Wales police confirmed to Australia's ABC state television network that 10 people were killed in the attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, including one of the perpetrators. In addition, 12 people have been injured, including several police officers. The second attacker is also injured.
Earlier, it was reported that sixteen people, in unknown condition, had been taken to hospitals after the shooting incident on Bondi Beach in Sydney, according to the New South Wales Ambulance Service. «We can only tell you that we provided assistance to many people at the scene and so far 16 people have been taken to various hospitals in Sydney,» a service spokesman said.
Furthermore, according to the Australian state television network ABC, the attack took place at the northern end of Bondi Beach. ABC added that there is still no confirmation of the target, but noted that an event organized by the Jewish community to mark the first night of Hanukkah had just begun at that location.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, speaking at an event in Jerusalem, denounced that «our sisters and brothers in Sydney were attacked by despicable terrorists in a very brutal attack against Jews who had gone to light the first candle for Hanukkah on Bondi Beach.».
«If we were deliberately targeted in this way, it is an event of a scale that none of us could have imagined. It's horrific,» Alex Rivchin, a member of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, told Sky News. He added that his communications advisor was injured in the attack.
«The police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge members of the public to avoid the area,» New South Wales Police said in a post on Twitter.
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that one of the alleged perpetrators was wounded by police gunfire and the other was arrested. The newspaper also noted that there were many casualties, while Sky and ABC television networks broadcast videos showing people lying on the ground.
Videos posted on X appear to show people on Bondai Beach fleeing as gunshots and police sirens are heard.
«We have been informed of an evolving security situation in Bondi. We urge people in the area to follow the updates from the New South Wales Police,» a spokesperson for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said earlier.
