The Bondi Beach Shooting: An ISIS-Inspired Terror Attack

On December 14, 2025, Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach became the site of Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. During a lively “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration organized by the local Chabad Jewish community, attended by around 1,000 people, two gunmen opened fire on the crowd, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. The victims included a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, a Holocaust survivor, a rabbi who was a father of five, and others from the Jewish community gathering for the first night of Hanukkah.

The attackers, identified as father and son Sajid Akram (50) and Naveed Akram (24), targeted the event in what authorities quickly declared a terrorist incident motivated by antisemitism. One gunman was killed during the attack, while the other was hospitalized in critical condition. Acts of bravery emerged amid the chaos, including bystander Ahmed al-Ahmed, who tackled and disarmed one shooter despite being wounded, and lifeguards who aided fleeing victims.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and police officials stated that the attack was inspired by Islamic State (ISIS) ideology. Key evidence includes two homemade ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices found in a vehicle registered to the younger suspect. The pair had traveled to the Philippines in November 2025—an area with known ISIS-affiliated militant activity—prompting investigations into possible training or radicalization links there. The younger Akram had previously been probed by Australian intelligence in 2019 for associations with a pro-ISIS cell, though no ongoing threat was identified at the time.

The incident has reignited debates on gun laws in Australia, where strict controls were introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, and sparked national mourning with vigils, record blood donations, and calls for stronger measures against extremism and antisemitism. As investigations continue, the attack underscores the persistent global influence of ISIS-inspired lone actors or small groups, even as the organization’s territorial hold has diminished.

SOURCES:

Bondi Beach gunmen appear inspired by Islamic State, authorities say – The Washington Post

Sydney Gunmen Were Motivated by ISIS, Australia’s Leader Says – The New York Times

Australian leader says Bondi Beach suspects “motivated by Islamic State ideology,” as their histories emerge – CBS News

Islamic State surfaces again as group is tied to Sydney shooting attack – The Washington Post

Reasons for Bondi suspects’ Philippines trip remain unclear, but Islamic State is active there | Bondi beach terror attack | The Guardian

Bondi Beach Shooting Suspects ‘Inspired’ By ISIS: Prime Minister

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