Albanese Gun Review Hanukkah
Sydney
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged a comprehensive review of the country’s gun laws and announced increased support for Jewish Australians, as his government comes under intense scrutiny following a deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The attack occurred on Sunday during a local Hanukkah celebration, leaving the nation shocked and mourning.
At least 15 people were killed in the shooting, including a 10-year-old girl, while dozens more were injured. The incident unfolded during the first day of Hanukkah, a significant Jewish festival also known as the Festival of Lights. Authorities have described the event as one of the deadliest acts of violence in Australia in recent years.
Addressing reporters on Monday afternoon, a visibly sombre Albanese described the shooting as an act of terrorism driven by hatred. What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of anti-Semitism: an attack on the first day of Hanukkah, targeted at the Jewish community, he said in prepared remarks after visiting the crime scene. He added that it was a dark day in Australia’s history, on what should have been a day of light.
The Australian government has not publicly named the suspects. Officials have identified them only as a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. According to police, the elder suspect was killed in a shootout with officers at the scene, while the younger man survived and is currently being treated at a local hospital under police guard. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, motive, and whether the attackers acted alone or had broader links.
In response to the tragedy, Albanese announced that his government would review Australia’s gun laws to determine whether further tightening is necessary.
