According to Reuters, on December 15 local time, Australian police said the death toll from the shooting at Bondi Beach on the 14th targeting the Jewish community has risen to 16 people, and the two shooters were a father-son pair.
At the same day's press conference, the police stated that only two attackers were involved in this incident, with the 50-year-old father killed on the spot, and his 24-year-old son seriously injured and being treated in the hospital. The official has classified this shooting as a targeted anti-Semitic attack.
Witnesses said the shooting occurred during a hot evening, when the famous beach was crowded, and the attack lasted about 10 minutes, with hundreds of people fleeing in all directions, rushing into the beach, nearby streets, and parks.
On December 14 local time, after the shooting incident at Bondi Beach, crowds fled in panic. Screenshot from video
The police said that about 1,000 people were attending the Hanukkah celebration event on the beach at that time, and there are still 40 injured people in the hospital, including two officers with serious injuries but stable conditions. The victims' ages range from 10 to 87 years old.
On the 15th, Australian Prime Minister Albanese visited the scene of the incident, stating that this attack was "a dark moment for the nation," and that the police and security agencies are thoroughly investigating the motives behind the attack.
"What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an anti-Semitic act, and a terrorist act that occurred at an iconic location in Australia," said Albanese.
On the 14th local time, several hours after the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a speech, saying he had written to Albanese in August, accusing Australia of "pouring oil on the flames of anti-Semitism."
Netanyahu quoted the content of his letter, stating that Australia's decision to recognize the State of Palestine and related policies had fueled "the anti-Semitic sentiment now roaming your streets."
In August, Albanese said Australia would recognize the State of Palestine, which triggered strong opposition from Israel. Netanyahu publicly criticized Albanese as a "weak politician," accusing him of "betraying Israel and abandoning Australian Jews."
Albanese responded at the time, saying, "I don't take these words personally. I conduct myself diplomatically with others. He has made similar remarks about other leaders."
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