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At least 12 people, including a suspected gunman, were killed and 29 others wounded during an incident on an Australian beach targeting the Jewish community Sunday (December 14), the New York Post reports.
A large crowd was gathered for "Chanukah by the Sea 2025," celebrating the first night of the Jewish holiday, when two gunmen opened fire at around 6:45 p.m.
“This cowardly act of terrified violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns during at a press conference Sunday night via the New York Post. “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah,” he added. “What should’ve been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”
Thousands of beachgoers fled after shots were fired. The gunmen were reported to be wearing dark shirts with one wearing white pants and perched on a pedestrian bridge overlooking the event, which took place near a playground.
One of the suspected gunmen was killed at the scene while the other was detained in critical condition, according to police. Narveed Akram, of Sydney, was identified as one of the gunmen, an anonymous senior police source confirmed to ABC News. Authorities also said that one of the suspected gunmen was on Australia's Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) watchlist but wasn't believed to be "an immediate threat" prior to the shooting.