A detailed timeline of the Bondi Beach shooting has emerged, revealing approximately ten minutes of terror that left 15 people dead and transformed a Hanukkah celebration into a massacre. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the Sunday attack as “pure evil” while laying flowers at the scene Monday, as the nation mourned with flags at half-mast.
The violence began as roughly 1,000 Jewish community members gathered in a small park adjacent to the famous beach for holiday festivities on a hot summer evening. Two gunmen, later identified as father Sajid Akram, 50, and son Naveed Akram, 24, began firing into the crowd in what police have confirmed was a targeted antisemitic assault. Witnesses described confusion and panic as families scattered, many initially uncertain whether they were hearing fireworks or gunfire.
The ten-minute timeframe saw hundreds of people fleeing across the sand and into nearby streets, with some seeking shelter in shops and restaurants while others ran toward the water. Security forces arrived and engaged the attackers, ultimately killing the elder Akram and critically wounding the younger one. The swift law enforcement response likely prevented additional casualties, though sixteen people ultimately lost their lives including the father who was shot at the scene.
Forty individuals required hospitalization, among them two police officers whose serious injuries stabilized after treatment. The age range of victims from ten to 87 years old illustrated the family-focused nature of the targeted gathering. Ahmed al Ahmed, a local fruit shop owner, displayed extraordinary courage during those critical minutes by physically wrestling a weapon from one of the shooters, sustaining gunshot wounds in the process.
This attack represents Australia’s deadliest gun violence in nearly thirty years and has forced national reflection on religious hatred and public safety. The transformation of an iconic beach celebration into a terrorism site within just ten minutes demonstrates the vulnerability of public gatherings and the devastating speed at which violence can unfold. As investigators continued examining evidence, communities across Australia increased security at religious events while mourning those lost.