Already and this is the daily This is the Daily OS. Oh, now it makes sense. Good morning and welcome to the Daily OOS. It's Tuesday, the sixteenth of December.
I'm Emma Gillespie, I'm Sam Kelowski.
On Sunday evening, a terror attack unfolded on the shores of Australia's most recognized beach. Two gunmen, a father and son, fired dozens of bullets at a Jewish community event in Bondai, targeting crowds attending celebrations to mark the beginning of Hunaka. At the time of recording, at least sixteen people are dead, including one of the gunmen, and forty are injured. Among those killed is a ten year old child.
His cowardly act of terrifying violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney.
Flagged well lie at half masted across the country today, as we pay our respects to all those lost and all those who have been.
Injured, it's hard to make sense of this unspeakable tragedy as the nation mourns one of the worst mass shootings in Australian history. But today we want to bring you up to speed with everything we know about the Bondai beach attack and how Australia and the world is responding.
And this is a story that hits very close to home for us at TDA and for me personally as well. I've lived in Bondai my whole life. I'm a member of the Jewish community there. I was in lockdown in a building across the road from the site of the shooting for a couple of hours on Sunday evening. It's been one of the most surreal twenty four to forty eight hour periods I can remember. Yeah, but it's dominating headlines all around the world. We've seen a lot of misinformation.
So I think it would be helpful if you can take us back to the start and we spend a bit of time laying out how everything unfolded on Sunday afternoon. Yeah.
So it was a perfect summer evening in Bondai, as you would have known, Sam being there yourself. It was about six forty pm on Sunday when a series of gun shots rang out near a local Jewish community gathering right by the beach. Emergency services were called to the scene and arrived there promptly where police located two men using rifles and shotguns to fire into crowds of people.
Multiple videos posted to social media show those two gunmen standing on a footbridge connecting Campbell Parade to the Bondai Pavilion, a massively popular thoroughfare at that iconic site, firing shots into the crowd.
Now.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday night, New South Wales Premier Chris Mins said the attack was quote designed to target Sydney's Jewish community.
And we know that because police are saying the shooters were clearly targeting a religious celebration in Bondai. It only took a couple of hours for officials to make that declaration. Tell me how they made that connection.
Yeah, Well, hundreds of people had gathered to celebrate the start of the Jewish festival of Hanakah. There was this event, Haneker by the Sea, which started at five pm in Bondi Beach Park, right next to a children's playground. And this really was a family celebration in every sense. We had live entertainment, activities, music games. It was billed as a fun for all ages event on the promotions, the posters.
So there was that going on in the middle of you know what is already typically a really popular and busy part of Bondai, especially at this time of year. People swimming in the beach, having picnics nearby, attending the many restaurants and bars and venues surrounding festive celebrations. There would have been several thousands of people in the vicinity, but the gunmen were clearly aiming towards that gathering of a Jewish community celebration.
And things changed very quickly. Give me the latest on the death toll and do we know how many people are injured.
At the time of recording, sixteen people are dead, Fifteen of those killed were victims, and one gunman is dead. So we heard Premier Chris Mins confirming the victims' age Rangers on Monday morning as from as young as ten to as old as eighty seven. He called that a devastating fact. Now, in terms of the wounded, we know dozens of people were treated for injuries at the scene,
many hospitalized, many remain in a critical condition. At the time of recording, thirty eight people remain in hospital and three are believed to be children. We also have heard from New South Wales police that two of their officers suffered gunshot wounds as they exchanged fire with the two gunmen at the scene, and at the time of recording, those officers are in a critical but stable condition.
We put up a post yesterday about the Jewish festival of Hanuka, which was being celebrated there at the beach, to give you a sense of the significance of the festival. I heard somebody yesterday refer to the sort of celebration that was taking place at bondais the Jewish equivalent to carols by candlelight. It's kind of got that joyous mode about it. There are quite a few Jewish festivals which are somber and sad. This is not one of them.
This is about, as you said before, fun light, resilience, hope, all of those kind of qualities, and Jewish communities all around the world traditionally gather on that first night of the eight night festival to celebrate together. That was where the offenders were targeting, and that is why it's now been declared by federal authorities as a terror attack. Give me a sense of what it means when authorities say that something is a terrorist incident, and what that changes yeah.
A terror attack essentially means that the motivations of the attackers, the offenders are in some way politically motivated, religiously motivated. It is a targeted attack.
That is designed to inflict terror as well and designed to scare not just those at the beach, but all of Australia exactly.
And also when we have an incident declared a terror incident, it elevates the response from law enforcement authorities and that's exactly what we have seen here in New South Wales. So during a press conference late on Sunday night, the New South Wales Police Commissioner mal Lanyon said that as a result of the circumstances of the attack as we've described Sam that he declared this to be a terrorist incident. However,
police are yet to speculate on motive or ideology. So we know that it was a targeted anti Semitic attack, but we don't yet have more detail on motive. Lanyon said, quote, we will have a significant investstigation. No stone will be left unturned. This type of disgraceful activity, this wanton use of violence, the taking of innocent lives, is unacceptable. So that terror declaration, as I mentioned, triggers a significant police response.
In this case, that's a joint counter terrorism operation between the New South Wales Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the AFP and AZO, that is the National Security Agency. It should also be noted and contributing to the nature of this incident as a terror incident, two active improvised explosive devices otherwise known as homemade bombs I suppose or
homemade explosives were found at the scene. They were removed by New South Wales Police's Rescue and Bomb Disposal unit and we're still waiting for more on the analysis of those suspicious devices.
One of the key parts of the powers given to police in a terrorism declaration is also the way that they can search people and properties as well much faster. They don't have to go through some of the regular court systems, fee less of that red tape exactly. They can move at speed, and they did that on Sunday night. There was also this sense that there could have been more threats to come on other religious institutions or events around Sydney, but also the potential of a third perpetrator.
Do police believe still that there is an active threat that remains and how much have they told us about these perpetrators.
Yeah, so authorities have said that the threat in Bondi had been neutralized. That doesn't mean that investigators aren't on alert for other potential threats or even retaliatory violence, but it does mean that there's no evidence yet that we have been made aware of to indicate that there is
that other threat. You're right, Sam, there was a bit of confusion around how many perpetrators, how many gunmen talk online of perhaps a third shooter, but in an update on Monday, police confirmed they were satisfied that there were two offenders involved in the shooting. One, a fifty year old man, is deceased. The second is a twenty four year old man. Now he is in a critical but
stable condition in hospital under police guard. Police have also confirmed that both gunmen were a father and son, so we're talking about a father and son duo, and as part of their investigations, counter Terror Police conducted two search warrants on Sunday night. So the father and son were staying at a Campsy address. That's a suburb in Sydney's southwest, but they lived in Bonnie Rig in the city's west, so both properties were raided and.
So what did police find at those two properties.
We know that the fifty year old gunman, so that is the gunman who died at the scene. He was a licensed gun owner of six firearms. Commissioner Olnyon said that he was satisfied that those six firearms were recovered from the scene in Bondai on Sunday night. Year old owned six guns, had licenses for them and used those weapons to carry out this terror attack. Here's a little bit more from the Police Commissioner.
We will continue to investigate this matter thoroughly. It's important for the community to have the reassurance that New South Wales Police, working with our Commonwealth partners, will not stop until we understand the reasons behind this senseless incident and take any available action that we need to do.
Now sam As this is an active investigation. Law enforcement have been understandably guarded about certain details, but it is understood and a point that has been of great public interest that one of the men was also known to Asio and New South Wales Police. Azeo said that he was quote not in an immediate threat perspective, but obviously he said, we need to look into what happened here.
That was the ASIO boss, Mike Burgers. So the AFP, ASIO and New South Wales Police have promised to put all available resources and specialist powers towards ensuring a thorough investigation. But you can imagine there are a lot of questions left unanswered about what known to ASIO means in this context.
And a lot of that questioning and a lot of that interrogation by media and by members of the public was directed towards the federal government, who primarily have a responsibility to protect all citizens of Australia. Talk me through the federal government's response, both on the Sunday night but also in the day that has followed.
Yes, so we heard from the Prime Minister Anthony Alberanzi on Sunday night in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, as the details were really still coming to light, and he condemned the attack in Bondi as an anti Semitic act of pure evil. Albanizi said, in this moment of darkness, we must be each other's light, hold on to the true character of the country that we love. Australia is
stronger than the cowards who attacked innocent people. Today, he offered his condolences to the Jewish community of Bondai and the Jewish community right across the country. Here's a bit more of what he had to say at a press conference on Monday.
This was an attack deliberately targeted at the Jewish community on the first day of Harnekah, which of course should be a joyoush celebration, and the Jewish community are hurting today. Today all Australians wrap our arms around them and say we stand with you. We will do whatever is necessary to stamp out any Semitism. It is a scourge and we will eradicate it together.
Now we've also heard from the Federal Opposition leader Susan Lee. She said, quote this attack occurred as our Jewish community came together at Hanneker by the Sea. This was a celebration of peace and hope for the future severed by hate.
And I'd love to pivot to the response that we saw on the ground in Bondai. I walked out onto a balcony in this locked down building and I don't think I've ever seen more emergency vehicles. It felt like I was looking at a car park of emergency vehicles. We saw this massive effort. It wasn't just emergency respondents, it was also civilians. What can you tell us about this on the ground response.
Yeah, I suppose whenever we have these horrific events unfolding, we also have the silver lining in the form of our first responders and we see their work in real time unfolding and saving lives. Albanezi and the New South Wales Premier Chris Mins have really been at pains to acknowledge the bravery of emergency services as well as civilians
on the ground in Bondai. Dominic Morgan is the Ambulance Commissioner for New South Wales and they confirmed that first crews were on the scene within less than ten minutes of the first reports of the shooting, and more than one hundred and twenty three personnel from New South Wales Ambulance were in Bondai on Sunday night helping and working with police. Commissioner Morgan made the point that first responders learned some really important lessons from the Bondai Westfield stabbing attack.
Of course, so much pain and trauma in this one pocket of Sydney, so the Commissioner Morgan said that command structures were seamless on Sunday night that the ability for paramedics with the support of police to work in these hot zones, he is absolutely convinced contributed to the saving
of lives that otherwise would have been lost. The Commissioner said first responders that these scenes are quote an inspiration to us all the way they put themselves in harm's way, their courage and resilience, We all thank you.
He said.
Also, of course, am you've mentioned ordinary civilians. We saw this incredible community response with a record turnout for blood donation this week. Lifeblood put out a call out across Sydney on Monday morning. By mid afternoon there were lines queued up outside donation centers, hundreds of people wanting to roll up their sleeves and do their bit.
I also wanted to shout out the lifeguards and yes voluntary self life savers at Bondai, who were on the scene almost straight away. Remarkable vision of patients being carried away on life saving boards which are being used as stretchers. These are regular people volunteering for shifts or working at the beach. And then in a whole other part of the events that were unfolding, there's one civilian in particular who's gone viral for their contribution, right exactly.
You probably by now have seen that viral footage of a man believed to be Ahmed al Ahmed. He is a fruit shop owner from Sutherland in Sydney's Shire who confronted one of the gunmen, wrestled the firearm from him and pointed it towards the gunman. He is rightly being celebrated as a hero around the world. It's believed he was shot in the arm at the scene, but is recovering in hospital, not even sure if he realizes the impact that he's had on his community and the world.
Even US President Donald Trump shouted him out, saying, quote, there's a very very brave person who went and attacked frontally one of the shows and saved a lot of lives. Great respect to that man that did that.
Something tells me he's going to have a very good week of sales the at his fruit shop, as he should, and maybe many more weeks to come. But you mentioned that we have heard from the US president. How have other world leaders responded to this. It feels like Bondai is the center of the world right now.
Yeah, and it can be hard. I guess for us in the thick of it to really zoom out and realize how this has had an impact globally. But it has reached every corner of the world and we've seen an outpouring of condolences from international leaders. King Charles gave his condolences and said, my wife, Queen Camilla, and I are appalled and saddened by the most dreadful anti Semitic
terrorist attack. I know that the spirit of community and love that shines so brightly in Australia and the light at the heart of the Hunuker Festival, will always triumph over the darkness of such evil. British PM Ki Starma also said his thoughts and prayers are with those murdered in the terrorist attack on Bondai Beach and their families.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France shares the pain of the Australian people and will continue to fight relentlessly against the anti Semitic hatred that wounds us all and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxen said Australia and New Zealand are closer than friends, we are family. I am shocked by the distressing scenes at Bondai, and that is just
the tip of the iceberg. Sam every corner of the globe there has been that sentiment coming out world leaders in support of Australia and in support of the Jewish community.
It's impossible to separate the events in Bondai from the war that's been happening in the Middle East that started on October seven, twenty twenty three. It's led to commentary from Israeli politicians as to the conditions in Australia. The Australian government's response tell me about that reaction from Israel's parliament well.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya, who has used very strong language to condemn not only this attack, but to criticize the federal government's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood. He's called Anthony Albanese's leadership week and has been very very clear on his condemnation of Albanese's leadership. Netnya, who said he had warned the government a few months ago that it was promoting and encouraging antisemitism in Australia by calling for a
Palestinian state. Those were Netanyahu's words earlier in the year. He said he called upon the PM to quote, replace weakness with action. He said that instead, Prime Minister, you replaced weakness with weakness and appeasement with more appeasement. Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism. You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews.
We saw at Bondai, very strong words there from Nennahu and there is clearly a lot of hurt and anger in the community. In my view, it's turned political quite fast. How has Albanzi responded to those comments from the Israeli Prime Minister.
Well, at the time of recording, he hasn't directly responded to those criticisms from the Israeli Prime Minister. We have heard, though, in terms of an Australian perspective on this issue, we have heard from the Special Envoy against Anti Semitism, Jillian Siegel, who did say the messaging and education about how Jewish
hatred harmed the community had been inadequate. So Siegel told ABC Radio quote, Unfortunately, I have to say that I've been holding my breath fearing that something like this would happen, because it hasn't come without warning. The PM, rather than kind of directly addressing these criticisms. Has said though that now is not the time to kind of go there.
He said, now is the time for national unity. He has vowed to stamp out antisemitism and he has continued to condemn these attacks as pure evil.
And the Prime Minister visited the site of the shooting very early on Monday morning and was, I believe the first two lay flowers at what is now a large memorial there at the beach, give me a sense of what happens from here. I mean, there's going to be you would imagine months of inquiries and investigations into this, but what can we kind of expect from the next days and weeks.
Absolutely, you're right, there will no doubt be calls and questions about these inquiries and next steps. Federal and state leaders are continuing to hold talks. So on Monday yesterday, Anthony Albanezi held an emergency meeting with state and territory leaders late in the afternoon that came amid calls for
a report on anti Semitism to be implemented. The National Security Committee, that is a group made up of the Prime Minister, senior ministers, federal police, and Azio also met on Monday afternoon to discuss next steps their second meeting in twenty four hours, which is quite unprecedented for that group. Now, what we can expect is that this is not going away. This is an incident that will be forever embedded into the pages of Australia's modern history for very sadly all
the wrong reasons. Sunday's attack is Australia's worst modern day mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre in nineteen ninety six, a day that changed Australia and our gun laws forever. Thirty five people were killed in that massacre by gunman Martin Bryant. But this incident is the deadliest anti Semitic act in the nation's history. This is a moment that will change us forever. But there is so much that
we just don't know yet. We're learning more and more by the hour, and as we continue to hear about those developments, we will continue to share them with our audience here on the podcast, on our Instagram feed across all TDA channels. So I suppose you know watch this space and plenty to come.
Thank you for taking us through that and a really difficult topic. And I think that you've embodied the way that we're trying to do things here at TDA, which is get down to the facts, explain things for us all and promote as much good information as we can find. Thank you, Sam, and that's all we've got time for today. For you as well, please look after yourself and each
other and remember that support is always available. New South Wales Health has a dedicated mental health line available twenty four to seven on one eight hundred zero one one five one one. Lifeline is also available twenty four seven on one three one one one four and our thoughts are with everyone recovering in hospital at the moment. My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda Bunjelung
Kalkotin woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the first peoples of these countries, both past and present.