SYDNEY: Two gunmen who attacked a Jewish celebration in Sydney’s Bondi Beach and killed 15 people had been a father and son, police mentioned on Monday (Dec 15), as Australia mourned victims of its worst gun violence in virtually 30 years.
The daddy, a 50-year-old, was killed on the scene whereas his 24-year-old son was in important situation within the hospital, police mentioned at a press convention on Monday. Officers have described the taking pictures on Sunday as a focused antisemitic assault.
Witnesses mentioned the assault on the famed seaside, which was packed on a sizzling night, lasted about 10 minutes, sending a whole lot of individuals scattering alongside the sand and into close by streets and parks. Police mentioned round 1,000 folks had attended the Hanukkah occasion.
Forty folks stay in hospital following the assault, together with two law enforcement officials who’re in a critical however secure situation, police mentioned. The victims had been aged between 10 and 87.
Authorities mentioned they had been assured solely two attackers had been concerned within the incident after beforehand saying they had been checking whether or not a 3rd offender was concerned.
Police investigations are ongoing and police numbers have been elevated in Jewish communities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who visited the scene on Monday, referred to as the assault a “darkish second for our nation”, and mentioned police and safety companies had been completely checking the motive behind the assault.
“What we noticed yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location,” Albanese instructed reporters.
“The Jewish group are hurting at the moment. Immediately, all Australians wrap our arms round them and say, we stand with you. We are going to do no matter is important to stamp out antisemitism. It’s a scourge, and we’ll eradicate it collectively.”
Albanese mentioned a number of world leaders, together with United States President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, had reached out, and he thanked them for his or her solidarity.
“In Australia, there was a horrible assault … and that was an antisemitic assault clearly,” Trump mentioned throughout a Christmas reception on the White Home on Sunday, paying respects for the victims of assaults at Bondi and one other taking pictures at Rhode Island’s Brown College.
