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Nine people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on Sydney’s popular tourist destination Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Australian police said one shooter was also killed. Twelve other people, including two police officers, have also been admitted to the hospital.
According to New South Wales Police, the gunmen opened fire at the northern end of the beach and have since been “neutralised”. The area has been evacuated.
At the time of the shooting, an event was taking place on the beach to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.
A man who spoke to the Financial Times but declined to be named said that a friend of his had been shot in the shoulder at the event and that the names of the casualties, including a child, were already circulating throughout the Jewish community.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement: “The scenes in Bondi are shocking and disturbing. Police and emergency responders are working on the ground to save lives.”
The area’s MP, Allegra Spender, said in a statement that it was a “terrible” incident and urged people to follow police orders to avoid the beach.
