World leaders and international organizations expressed outrage and solidarity following a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that killed 12 people during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday. The attack, which left at least 29 others injured, including two police officers, has been widely condemned as a terrorist act.
Incident Details and Police Response
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that one suspected gunman was killed while another remains in critical condition. Authorities are investigating the possibility of a third gunman, and a bomb-disposal team is handling several suspected improvised explosive devices. Top Australian intelligence official Mike Burgess said one of the attackers was previously known to authorities but had not been considered an immediate threat.
Emergency teams rushed the injured to nearby hospitals while rescue and security operations continued at the scene. Videos circulating on social media showed panic-stricken festivalgoers fleeing amid gunfire, highlighting the chaos and terror that unfolded at one of Sydney’s most iconic beaches.
Pakistan Expresses Condolences and Solidarity
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the tragic shooting, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery. In a statement, he emphasized Pakistan’s understanding of the trauma caused by terrorism and condemned violence against innocent civilians, reaffirming Pakistan’s principled stance against terrorism in all forms.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, describing it as a “terrorist attack” and expressing solidarity with Australia and its people during this difficult time. Both leaders highlighted Pakistan’s firm opposition to terrorism and violence worldwide.
Australian Leaders React
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “shocking and distressing,” describing it as “beyond comprehension.” He confirmed that police and security agencies are working to identify anyone connected to the assailants. Opposition leader Sussan Ley expressed deep mourning, calling the attack a strike against “the heart of an iconic Australian community” at Bondi Beach.
International Condemnation
Global leaders also spoke out against the attack. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the shooting as an “appalling act of violence,” expressing support for Australia and Jewish communities worldwide. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called for unequivocal condemnation of violence against the Jewish community.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent condolences to those affected, while French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to fight antisemitic hatred. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed profound grief and condemned all forms of violence and antisemitism. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul highlighted the attack as an act of hatred targeting Jews globally on the first day of Hanukkah.
Other leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, expressed solidarity with Australia, emphasizing that terror and hatred must be defeated everywhere. A major Australian Muslim organization also condemned the “horrific” shooting, calling for unity against violence.
A Nation in Mourning
The Bondi Beach shooting has left Australia in shock as the country grapples with the scale of the tragedy. Emergency services, law enforcement, and government officials continue to investigate, while communities around the world express solidarity with the victims and their families.
