Albanese says Australia will eradicate ‘hate, violence and terrorism’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the national security committee was convened as a matter of urgency this evening.
He said:
There has been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi at the Chanukah By the Sea celebration. This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. [The attack is] an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.
An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.
There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear: we will eradicate it.
Key events
Tom McIlroy
Nationals leader David Littleproud says the scenes from Bondi “are horrific and distressing.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were at the scene, their families and the courageous first responders,” he said in a statement.
Police have now confirmed this was an act of terror.
This is an attack on Australia and our way of life. This hatred and violence has no place in Australia.
This attack occurred as our Jewish community came to celebrate Chanukah by the Sea at Bondi Beach.
Australians will be devastated and in shock, that what should have be a joyous time has turned into something that is hard to comprehend.
We stand united with our Jewish community. Our hearts go out to our Jewish friends and we wrap our arms around them after this act of terror.
Tom McIlroy
Mehreen Faruqi says Bondi killings ‘appalling and unforgivable’ and gives condolences to Sydney Jewish community
The NSW senator and deputy Greens leader, Mehreen Faruqi, has sent condolences to the Sydney Jewish community after the Bondi shooting.
“My heart filled with dread when I saw the news this evening,” she wrote on social media. She went on:
I’m absolutely devastated by the horrific violence at Bondi beach tonight. This is an appalling and unforgivable act of violence.
My thoughts are especially with the Jewish community.
My heart goes out to all who have lost loved ones and those who were injured, and my immense gratitude to the first responders who have risked their lives to keep our communities safe.
Jordyn Beazley
NSW police commissioner says child transported to hospital but he does not think any children were among those killed
Returning to the NSW premier and police commissioner’s press conference, which wrapped up a short time ago.
Lanyon said he doesn’t believe any children were among the deceased but said that a child was transported to hospital.
He said:
I don’t want to give information that turns out to be incorrect. It is very early. We know that there has been a number of people turn up to the hospital.
The premier said no decision had been made yet to close schools tomorrow and noted that most private schools in the east have begun their end-of-year break.
He advised parents who have children attending government schools in the area to check their school’s social media for updates.
What we learned during the press conferences
Here’s the latest from NSW police, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, and the prime minister:
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Twelve people are confirmed dead, including one gunman. Police described the figures as an evolving situation.
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Twenty-nine people have been transported to area hospitals in a range of conditions but officials described the injuries as serious. That figure includes two police officers.
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Chris Minns and Anthony Albanese described the shooting as a targeted attack on the Jewish community during the first day of Hanukah.
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The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, has designated the shooting a terrorist incident.
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Lanyon said the gunmen used long arms. Police are investigating what’s believed to be several improvised explosive devices in a vehicle at Bondi beach.
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Both Minns and Albanese have vowed to support the Jewish community and eradicate hate.
Asio chief says one of the shooters ‘known to us’
Burgess said of the shooters: “One individual was known to us, but not in an immediate threat perspective”.
“So obviously we need to look into what happened.”
Asio chief says agency investigating if anyone has ‘similar intent’ but ‘no indications’
Mike Burgess, the director general of Asio, said the agency is looking at the identities of the attackers and to see if there is “anyone in the community that has similar intent”.
It’s important to stress, at this point, we have no indications to that fact – but that is something we have active investigations on.
The national terrorism threat level remains at probable. I don’t see that changing at this stage. Probable means there is a 50% chance of an act of terror. And unfortunately we’ve seen that horrific act occur tonight in Australia.
Albanese says Jewish community will have every resource needed
The prime minister said:
As prime minister, I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community: we stand with you. We embrace you and we reaffirm tonight that you have every right to be proud of who you are and what you believe.
You have the right to worship and study and live and work in peace and safety. And you enrich us as a nation. You should never have to endure the loss that you have suffered today. You should never know the fear that you know tonight.
Albanese says Australia will eradicate ‘hate, violence and terrorism’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the national security committee was convened as a matter of urgency this evening.
He said:
There has been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi at the Chanukah By the Sea celebration. This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. [The attack is] an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.
An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.
There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear: we will eradicate it.
Shooters used long arms; police investigating believed explosive devices inside vehicle
Lanyon said it’s too early to determine where the weapons used in the shooting came from, but described them as long arms.
He said specialist police have located a vehicle in Bondi Beach in which they believe are several improvised explosive devices.
Rescue bomb disposal units are on the scene at the moment.
NSW police commissioner calls for calm as shooting investigated
Lanyon is urging the community to remain calm as the police investigate the shooting.
When I asked for calm, that is really important. This is not a time for retribution. This is a time to allow the police to do their duty. So police are responding to make sure that all of the community is safe.
Twenty-nine taken to hospitals across Sydney, police commissioner designates shooting a terrorist incident
The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, is speaking now. He said:
Twenty-nine people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers. The condition of those officers and the other transported are serious but there is a range of conditions.
The shooting has been designated a terrorist incident. Lanyon said police are investigating if there is a third offender.
NSW premier says public’s ‘heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community’
Minns said there will be a “massive comprehensive police and public order response” after the shooting.
Our heart bleeds for Australia’s Jewish community tonight. I can only imagine the pain that they’re feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday.
It’s a responsibility of all Australians to wrap their arms around Australia’s Jewish community and help them get through this incredibly difficult period.
At least 12 killed in attack targeting Sydney’s Jewish community, Chris Minns says
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is speaking now. He just said at least 12 are dead:
This cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see, and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney.
This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community. On the first day of Hanukah. What should have been a night of peace and joy, celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying, evil attack.
Anne Davies
Witness describes ‘deafening’ Bondi shooting
Young people sat stunned at Bondi beach this evening after today’s mass shooting.
Olivia Matis had been out for a run in the evening along the Bondi beach promenade. She says:
I was just walking outside the pavilion and I ran into a friend and I heard the most deafening sounds. I thought they must be fireworks or something, and then I could see people crouching down and then people said ‘run’. There was just shots, shots, shots and I thought no way there’s a shooter but I ran and just sprinted.
A friend ran past and said there’s a shooter and I just kept running to my apartment at north Bondi. We just hid.
She said she thought there were about 50 shots.
Tom McIlroy
NSW Liberal MP Julian Leeser has called Sunday’s attack at Bondi Beach ‘a horrifying tragedy’
Leeser said the Sydney Jewish community is shaken by the attack, which appears to have targeted an event for the first night of the Jewish festival of Hanukah.
“For Australians, tonight has turned into one of grief and shock,” Leeser said. “We must come together, check in on one another, support our Jewish friends, and to offer comfort where it is needed.”
He went on:
My heart goes out to those who were in Bondi, spending time with their family and friends, only to be confronted with fear and violence.
Our Jewish community, which is known for its courage and stoicism, is shaken tonight.
Leeser thanked police and ambulance responders who attended Bondi.
Tom McIlroy
Tony Abbott says Bondi shooting an ‘absolute atrocity’
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called the Bondi shooting an “absolute atrocity”:
There should be no place in Australia for the kind of evil we’ve seen this evening.
Thank God one bystander heroically intervened, showing the good side of our country. I am praying for all those affected at this time.
Here is a video of that moment:
Home affairs minister condemns ‘appalling act of violence’
Tom McIlroy
Tony Burke, the home affairs minister, says the news from Bondi is horrifying.
The prime minister is being briefed directly by all security agencies.
All Australians stand together with the victims and against this appalling act of violence.
I encourage everyone in Sydney to listen to the directions of the NSW police as they conduct their investigation.
