Sydney

Bondi Beach victims' kin seek more action on antisemitism, security failure

Families of victims of the recent Sydney massacre that targeted a Jewish festival released an open letter on Monday calling for more federal action to investigate a rise in antisemitism and the security failures behind Australia's worst mass shooting in three decades. Two gunmen are accused of shooting 15 people dead and wounding another 40 in an attack on a Hannukah festival on Bondi Beach on Dec. 14. In an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 17 families of the dead and wounded called for a federal inquiry known as a royal commission to investigate a rise in antisemitism in Australia since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 and consequent security agency failures. Royal commissions are the most powerful form of public investigation in Australia and witnesses can be jailed for deliberately withholding evidence. We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes m

Australian PM announces bravery award for heroes of Bondi Beach attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans Thursday for a national bravery award to recognize civilians and first responders who confronted the worst of evil during an antisemitic terror attack that left 15 dead and has cast a heavy shadow over the nation's holiday season. Albanese said he plans to establish a special honors system for those who placed themselves in harms way to help during the attack on a beachside Hanukkah celebration, like Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian Muslim who disarmed one of the assailants before being wounded himself. Sajid Akram, who was killed by police during the Dec. 14 attack, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram are accused of perpetrating Australia's worst massacre since 1996. Speaking at a press conference after a Christmas Day lunch at a charitable foundation in Sydney, Albanese described a Christmas defined by a sharp contrast between extremist violence and the best of humanity. This Christmas is a different one because of th

Bondi Beach attack raises fears of Islamic State's resurgence in Asia

The extremist network has expressed admiration for the shooting - and while not officially claiming responsibility has acknowledged the influence of their ideology on the gunmen

Australian police allege gunman in Bondi Beach shooting trained with father

A suspected gunman accused of killing 15 people at Sydney's Bondi Beach conducted firearms training in an area of New South Wales outside of Sydney with his father and recorded a video about their justification for the attack, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Monday, citing police documents. The police statement of facts was made public following Naveed Akram's video court appearance Monday from a Sydney hospital. The statement alleges the 24-year-old and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, threw four improvised explosive devices toward at crowd involved in a Jewish event at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, but they didn't explode, ABC reported. The New South Wales court media unit could not immediately provide a copy of the statement. Police shot the father dead at the scene and wounded the son. The son was charged last week with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act.

Australia to start gun buyback programme after Bondi Beach terror attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday announced the government will introduce legislation to help fund the buyback

Kneejerk reactions not enough to stop the next Bondi Beach attack

Faced by such a targeted act of violence after years of increasing antisemitic attacks, it's unsurprising that Jewish Australians feel they've been left unprotected

Australia to toughen hate speech laws after Bondi Beach Jewish attack

The prime minister is under intense pressure over his centre-left government's handling of a rising tide of antisemitism over the past two years that critics say culminated in Sunday's massacre

Sydney's Bondi beach shooter awakens from coma as first funeral held

New South Wales police were expected to start questioning 24 year-old Naveed Akram on Wednesday, Commissioner Mal Lanyon said

Sydney’s Bondi beach shooting: What happened, who the attackers were, and what we know so far

At least 16 people were killed and dozens were injured after a mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

Bondi Beach mass shooting inspired by Islamic State: Australian police

A mass shooting in which 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach was a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State, Australia's federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett said Tuesday. The suspects were a father and son, aged 50 and 24, authorities have said. The older man was shot dead while his son was being treated at a hospital on Tuesday. A news conference by political and law enforcement leaders on Tuesday was the first time officials confirmed their beliefs about the suspects' ideologies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the remarks were based on evidence obtained, including the presence of Islamic State flags in the vehicle that has been seized. There are 25 people still being treated in hospitals after Sunday's massacre, 10 of them in critical condition. Three of them are patients in a children's hospital. Also among them is a man who was captured on video appearing to tackle and disarm one assailant, before pointing the man's weapon

Bondi Beach attack spurs worldwide mourning and calls for tougher gun laws

Hanukkah events and vigils took place in central Melbourne on Monday evening, with landmarks lit up to commemorate the Bondi victims

Pope Leo XIV condemns antisemitic Sydney attack, prays for victims

Pope Leo XIV on Monday denounced the antisemitic violence behind the Sydney Hanukkah massacre as he prayed for the victims and the gift of peace and fraternity this holiday season. Leo also issued a strong anti-abortion message during an audience with the donors of the Vatican's Christmas decorations, which he said were a sign of faith and hope. We pray for those who suffer from war and violence, in particular today I want to entrust to the Lord the victims of the terrorist attack in Syndey against the Jewish community. Enough of these forms of antisemitic violence! he said. We must eliminate hatred from our hearts. At least 15 people died in the attack on Sydney's Bondi Beach, where hundreds had gathered for a Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the Jewish festival. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the massacre an act of antisemitic terrorism. Leo, history's first American pope, said the evergreen fir trees that were donated by various Italian regions are a

Sydney attack: Australian intel had probed gunman in 2019 over IS links

Naveed Akram reportedly had close links with Matari, who is currently serving a 7-year prison sentence for planning an IS insurgency in Australian

EAM Jaishankar offers support to Australia after terror attack in Sydney

The attack, which authorities have declared a terrorist incident, targeted Jewish Australians who had gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah

Ex-England cricketer recounts 'terrifying' Bondi Beach attack in Sydney

Former England captain Michael Vaughan described being locked down with his family near Bondi Beach during the terror attack that killed 15 people and shocked Australia

Meet Ahmed al Ahmed, the Sydney shopkeeper who stopped Bondi Beach gunman

The 43-year-old Sydney shopkeeper suffered gunshot wounds after wrestling a rifle from one of the attackers during the Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting that left 15 people dead

12 killed in terror attack on Jewish community at Sydney's Bondi Beach

The shooting near a Jewish gathering at Sydney's Bondi Beach killed nine civilians and one attacker, with police warning of a suspected explosive device and urging people to avoid the area

Man arrested after ramming car into gates of Russian consulate in Sydney

Police said a 39-year-old man drove into the consulate gates after refusing to speak with officers, injuring a 24-year-old constable before being arrested

Sydney Sweeney's bathwater soap stirs controversy over hygiene, ethics

Sydney Sweeney's new soap bar made with her real bathwater, launched with Dr Squatch, has gone viral and sparked widespread discussion about hygiene and celebrity marketing ethics

Tata Steel recognised as Steel Sustainability Champion by WorldSteel

Tata Steel has been recognised as a Steel Sustainability Champion 2025 by World Steel Association (Worldsteel), a company statement said on Tuesday.. The Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Board of Members of Worldsteel held on Tuesday in Sydney, Australia announced the names of 2025 Steel Sustainability Champions, it said. On receiving the recognition, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel, T V Narendran said: "We are honoured to be recognised once again as a steel sustainability champion by the World Steel Association. This achievement reflects our continued commitment to sustainable steelmaking, integrating cutting-edge technologies and responsible business practices to reduce environmental impact. "We remain dedicated to driving innovation, improving resource efficiency, and contributing meaningfully to a greener and more resilient future for the steel industry." To qualify as a sustainability champion, companies must meet stringent criteria including signing the Worldsteel