From Celebration to Tragedy: Bondi’s Hanukkah Festival in Chaos

A festive evening intended to radiate “joy and light” at Bondi Beach in Sydney took a dark turn as Jewish families gathered to mark the kickoff of Hanukkah, the festival of lights.

This event unfolded amidst a throng of beachgoers, including swimmers and sunbathers who flocked to Australia’s renowned coastline on a blistering summer day.

However, moments after the celebration commenced at 5:00 PM, and the first complimentary donuts were handed out, jubilant music was abruptly silenced by the sounds of gunfire and panicked screams.

The timing of the first shot remains uncertain, but police received the initial distress call at 6:47 PM. In the ensuing chaos, two assailants reportedly took the lives of at least 15 individuals and injured many others, according to official statements.

One local educator, Chavi, recounted her harrowing experience, stating she dropped to the ground to shield her infant as “bullets rained down around us.”

Another witness, identified as Barry, described the scene as “utter pandemonium and chaos,” recalling how a sea of individuals attempted to flee from what had swiftly transformed into a horrific scenario.

In a video authenticated by authorities, the upbeat tunes of the Hanukkah celebration can still be heard as terrified attendees seek cover amid the sound of gunfire and desperate cries.

The hauntingly festive music plays on while the camera reveals motionless bodies scattered across the grass, their conditions uncertain.

Additional footage depicts groups of people huddled together on the ground, as one woman attempts to shield a young child with her hand.

Panic quickly spread from the park to the beach, with videos capturing beachgoers fleeing in terror from the gunfire.

In the minutes that followed, the air filled with screams, blaring car horns, and ambulance sirens. Witnesses reported that several vehicles collided as desperate individuals sought to escape.

A nearly 11-minute video, verified by authorities, outlines a detailed timeline of the assault, although it is unclear when the recording began.

The footage begins with the two gunmen crossing Campbell Parade, the bustling road lined with cafes that encircles the beach, before ascending a pedestrian bridge over the park hosting the Hanukkah festivities.

From this vantage point, the two men—identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24—allegedly executed the remainder of their attack using what experts described as “two sporting shotguns.”

One man, presumed to be Naveed Akram, remains on the bridge, while his father descends towards the park on foot, firing at intervals that can be heard in the footage.

As Sajid Akram moves away from the bridge, he opens fire indiscriminately at the crowd below.

Within minutes, a bystander, observed crouched behind parked vehicles, surprises Sajid and manages to wrestle the gun from him.

The assailant stumbles away, and the bystander, identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, points the weapon at Sajid before discarding it against a tree, raising his hands to signal he is not a suspect.

A heroic figure, Ahmed, who sustained two gunshot wounds during the attack, has been commended by the Premier of New South Wales for his courageous actions that potentially saved numerous lives.

However, less than a minute after being disarmed, Sajid Akram returns to the bridge and resumes firing with another weapon.

The gunfire ceases approximately two minutes later when it appears both assailants are struck by police shots.

About seven and a half minutes into the video, law enforcement arrives at the bridge, finding a highly tense situation with the two injured men—the alleged attackers—and a crowd of onlookers, some kicking the men on the ground.

Authorities later confirmed that one of the assailants, Sajid Akram, was found deceased at the scene, while the other was critically injured and transported to a medical facility, where he remains.

Reports indicate that both men resided about an hour’s drive from Bondi Beach in Bonnyrigg, a suburb in western Sydney.

In the days leading up to the incident, they had reportedly relocated to a short-term rental in Campsie, situated about 30 minutes closer to the beach.

Their family residence in Bonnyrigg has become a focal point for investigators, with police conducting a raid on the property on Sunday night.

Footage from the raid depicted three individuals exiting the house with their hands raised as heavily armed officers in tactical gear secured the area.

Although those individuals were detained, they have since been released without any charges.

It remains unclear whether the firearms used in the attack were legally owned by the two men; however, Sajid Akram possessed six registered guns and held a recreational firearm license.

Authorities scrutinized Naveed for his connections to a Sydney-based Islamic State cell after they became aware of his activities in 2019.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister of Australia stated that an assessment determined there was no indication of any imminent threat or likelihood of violent behavior from him.

Residents of the typically quiet suburban street have expressed their unease following the events of the past two days.

Lemanatua Fatu, a neighbor, described the alarming scene, saying, “My daughter shouted, ‘Mum, look outside!’ and I saw a multitude of police vehicles, sirens blaring, and loudspeakers urging people to come out.”

“Then I turned on the news—I couldn’t believe it could be them,” she added, reflecting on the shocking revelations.