Ten people, including one shooter, have been killed in an attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, NSW Police have confirmed.
The second shooter is in police custody, and is in a critical condition.
Eleven other people were injured.
Two police officers were among those shot.
A number of people have been taken to hospitals across Sydney. (ABC News: Nick Dole)
A senior law enforcement official has confirmed that one of the gunmen was Naveed Akram from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg was currently being raided by police.
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A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) has been located at the scene and is being dealt with by the bomb squad.
In an update just before 9pm, police said the operation following the public place shooting which unfolded on Campbell Parade about 6:45pm was ongoing, with the number of casualties “expected to change”.
Police tape off a road after the shooting in Bondi. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley)
Earlier in a post on social media, police called it a “developing incident”, urging people to avoid the area.
“Anyone at the scene should take shelter. Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand,” they said.
“We are still asking people in the area to take shelter until we can determine what is happening.”
NSW Police have confirmed 10 people including the shooter have died in the Bondi Beach attack. (ABC News: Isobel Roe)
Emergency services are at the scene, including more than 25 resources made up of medical teams, ambulances, helicopters and special operations units.
There is no information at this stage about the target or nature of the shooting, but a Chanukah by the Sea event was scheduled to take place near the children’s playground from 5pm, and had begun.
NSW Ambulance said they were treating multiple patients at the scene and have transported six to St Vincent’s Hospital, three to Royal Prince Alfred and two to St George.
One of the alleged shooters has been taken into custody, while the other is in a critical condition. (ABC News)
Vision from the grass area at the beach shows a frantic and horrific scene with multiple people lying on the ground injured as paramedics work on them.
People can be seen running away from the area, others have got bandages on their head while other people are covered in blood.
‘It was panic’
Randwick resident and former journalist Elizabeth Mealey said she was having dinner in the Icebergs restaurant when they heard shots ring out.
“We thought it was fireworks, but it wasn’t. It was something much worse,” she told the ABC.
“People started running right up the beach. It was panic and the panic spread to Icebergs and people are standing around still not knowing what’s going on, so it’s scary.”
Police lead people to safety after the shooting. (AAP: Jeremy Piper)
She said she could not see the shooter, but it sounded like it was coming from somewhere near to the Bondi Pavilion.
“It felt like it took a long time to hear a siren, we’ve got a helicopter coming in now and ambulance is arriving, it’s pandemonium, and we really don’t know what’s happening.
She said she saw people running from north Bondi to the south end to get away from what they could hear.
“We did hear what sounded like another type of gunfire, eventually which we were hoping and assuming it was police shooting back.
NSW Police are urging people to take shelter and stay away from the area. (ABC News)
“And after that, it went a bit quieter but still kept up, but at this point, we are assuming it’s over, but no one really knows.
“It’s terrifying.”
ABC deputy head of communications, Sally Jackson, was in North Bondi when she heard about 20 shots fired and saw people running from the beach in their swimmers.
She said women and their children were knocking on gates and asking to shelter at nearby homes.
“There was like Jewish women and children, incredibly distressed, very, very distressed and scared, who went upstairs to the bedroom here and stayed here until we could arrange for family members to come and pick them up,” Ms Jackson said.
NSW Police are urging people to avoid Bondi Beach as they respond to reports of an active shooter. (ABC News: Nick Dole)
Premier, PM respond to shooting
In a statement NSW Premier Chris Minns urged people to follow the advice of authorities.
“The reports and images coming out of Bondi tonight are deeply distressing,” he said.
“We will update the public as soon as more information becomes available.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident “shocking and distressing”.
“Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected,” he said in a statement.
A witness told the ABC it was panic and it spread to the Icebergs restaurant. (ABC News: Nick Dole)
Speaking at an event in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of the shooting, calling it a “very cruel attack on Jews” during a special community celebration.
“Our hearts go out to them. The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives,” he said.
“We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government to seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.”
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