12 People, Including One Gunman, Shot Dead at Sydney’s Bondi Beach: Jewish Community Targeted in ‘Terror Attack’

Twelve people, including one terrorist, were killed in what has been designated a terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. An additional 29 people were injured and a second terror gunman was arrested after the local Jewish community was directly targeted, according to Australian media.

A Chanukah by the Sea event with upwards of 1,000 attendees was scheduled to take place near a children’s playground from 5pm and had begun when the attack began at the iconic beach.

BONDI TERROR ATTACK: Horror scenes as two shooters attack Jewish event at Bondi Beach

NSW State Premier Chris Minns confirmed of the 12 individuals killed in the attack, one “offender” has also been killed and another is in custody, the BBC reports.

He says the attack was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community.”

What should have been a “night of peace and joy” was “shattered” by a “horrifying, evil attack”, he adds.

There were well over 1,000 people in attendance tonight, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Chanukah.

Two state police officers were among those shot, ABC News reports.

It was also confirmed late on Sunday evening that a number of suspicious items had been found near the bridge where the gunmen fired rounds, including an improvised explosive device (IED).

The IED was removed by bomb squad specialists, driven away in an armoured car, the Daily Mail reports.

As events unfolded around 9:00PM local time police called it a “developing incident”, urging people to avoid the area.

“Anyone at the scene should take shelter. Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand,” they said.

“We are still asking people in the area to take shelter until we can determine what is happening.”

Multiple patients were treated at the scene and were transported to hospitals in the immediate vicinity of Australia’s biggest city.

UPDATE: A beloved rabbi has been named as one of the victims of the mass shooting.

News.com.au reports one of the targeted victims has since been named as Rabbi Eli Schlanger from the Chabad of Bondi.

Just hours before the event, Rabbi Schlanger was reportedly posting about the gathering to his Facebook page.

“BOOK BOOK BOOK for your free donut,” he wrote.

Friend Eliezer Tewel posted about Rabbi Schlanger’s death.

“He was just doing his job. Showing up. Being the constant, reliable presence for his community,” he wrote in a tribute post.

“This is about my friend who is gone. It hurts. It’s confusing.”

More to come…

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