The Bondi Beach Shooting: A Clear Case of Jihadist Antisemitic Terrorism
- Rex Ballard
- Dec 15, 2025
- 5 min read
The Bondi Beach shooting on December 14, 2025, stands as a stark example of jihadist terrorism explicitly targeting the Jewish community, occurring during a Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park near Bondi Pavilion in Sydney, Australia. Organized by Chabad-Lubavitch, the "Chanukah by the Sea" event drew hundreds for the first night of the holiday when two gunmen opened fire, killing at least 15-16 people (including children) and injuring over 40. Australian officials, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, swiftly classified it as an antisemitic terrorist attack, emphasizing its deliberate targeting of Jewish Australians.
The suspects, identified as Sajid Akram (approximately 50) and his son Naveed Akram (24), both of Pakistani heritage and Sydney residents, exhibited clear jihadist affiliations. Sajid immigrated to Australia from Pakistan in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted to residency, while Naveed was born in Australia and holds citizenship. This long-term residency indicates the incident does not appear related to any recent influx of immigrants to Australia. Evidence of their radicalization includes Naveed's 2019 investigation by ASIO for ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) cell, though no charges were filed at the time. Investigators believe both pledged allegiance to ISIS before the assault, with an ISIS flag found in their vehicle and improvised explosive devices reportedly present, further supporting self-radicalization inspired by the group's ideology rather than a direct coordinated plot. No operational links to ISIS leadership have been confirmed, and while Israeli officials suggested possible Iranian involvement, Australian authorities have not substantiated this, focusing instead on jihadist antisemitism as the motive. Sajid legally owned the six firearms used, highlighting vulnerabilities in Australia's gun laws despite their post-1996 Port Arthur reforms.
Sajid was killed by police at the scene, while Naveed was critically injured and remains in custody. The attack's jihadist nature has drawn international condemnation, with U.S. figures like Rep. Mark Alford labeling it a "radical Islamic terrorist attack" and linking it to broader antisemitic trends funded by entities like Qatar. Critics have also tied the incident to immigration policies, arguing that "open borders" under Albanese's administration enabled such extremism, though Australia's system is notably strict. It should be noted that the suspects were not recent immigrants to Australia. Nevertheless, this event underscores the persistent threat of jihadist antisemitism, especially against Jewish gatherings during holidays.
Update December 15, 2025
The Bondi Beach shooting on December 14, 2025, lasted approximately 5 minutes and 52 seconds from the start of the gunfire until the surviving gunman (Naveed Akram) was critically injured by police, effectively ending the attack, according to a verified video analysis that captured 103 gunshots during this period. This timeline is based on footage showing the gunmen—Sajid Akram (killed by police) and his son Naveed—opening fire on the Hanukkah event crowd before engaging in a shootout with responding officers.
Reports of a bystander disarming one of the shooters are confirmed by multiple verified videos and eyewitness accounts. The bystander, identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed (a 43-year-old father of two), tackled and disarmed Sajid Akram (the father) during the incident, wrestling away his firearm and pointing it back at him before placing it on the ground. Al-Ahmed was injured in the process (sustaining gunshot wounds) and has been hailed as a hero by officials, including New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, for potentially saving lives. After being disarmed, Sajid retreated toward a nearby bridge where Naveed was positioned, and both were subsequently engaged by police, with Sajid killed in the exchange.
Since the time of the original incident, Authorities have reported that it resulted in a total of 16 deaths, including one of the alleged gunmen (Sajid Akram), meaning 15 civilian victims were killed. Additionally, 42 people were injured, with 26 remaining in the hospital. This marks a slight increase from initial reports of 15 deaths, as confirmed by ongoing identifications and medical updates. Nine civilian victims have been publicly identified so far, with details drawn from family statements, community tributes, and official reports. The remaining victims' names have not been released pending family notifications. Below is a list of the known victims:
Matilda: A 10-year-old girl and former student at Harmony Russian School in Sydney; described by her teacher as a "bright, joyful and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her"; she was rushed to Sydney Children’s Hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Peter Meagher (also known as Marzo): A longtime volunteer at Randwick Rugby Club and freelance photographer working at the Chanukah By the Sea event; a former NSW Police Force officer who served nearly four decades, retiring as a Detective Sergeant; remembered as a "much loved figure and absolute legend" in his community.
Tibor Weitzen: A Holocaust survivor who died shielding a family friend from bullets; his grandson described him as a "man full of life, joy, smiles and laughter"; his body was among the first discovered at the scene.
Eli Schlanger: A 41-year-old London-born rabbi and assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi; father of five children, with his wife giving birth to their youngest in October; grew up in Temple Fortune, north London; praised as "vivacious, energetic, full of life and a very warm outgoing person who loved to help people."
Alexander Kleytman: A Holocaust survivor who immigrated from Ukraine; his wife, Larisa Kleytman (also a Holocaust survivor), recounted that he used his body to stay close to her during the attack; he had shared his experiences, including time in Siberia, with JewishCare in 2023.
Dan Elkayam: A French man and soccer player for Rockdale Ilinden Football Club's premier league squad (set to join Arncliffe Aurora in 2026); described as an "extremely talented and popular figure amongst team mates."
Reuven Morrison (also known as Rueben): Emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Australia in the 1970s; a successful businessman who donated earnings to charities; divided his time between Sydney and Melbourne; had experienced persecution as a Jewish person in the Soviet Union.
Yaakov Levitan: Secretary of the Jewish institution, the Sydney Beth Din.
Unnamed Israeli citizen: Confirmed by the Israeli foreign ministry as among those killed; no further details released.
These identifications reflect a diverse group, including Holocaust survivors, rabbis, and community members, underscoring the attack's targeting of the Jewish community during Hanukkah. Updates may continue as authorities notify more families or those families come forward.
YouTube Video of the incident: https://youtu.be/mGDJQKSMLBY
Sources:
BBC: "Bondi gunmen driven by extremism, says Australian PM, as ..." - https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ckgk391yzm7t (Published 3 hours ago; includes details on suspects and eyewitness accounts).
CNN: "Australia Bondi Beach shooting kills at least 15, details on suspects ..." - https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/bondi-beach-gunshots-reported-12-14-25 (Published 11 minutes ago; live updates on casualties and police statements).
NPR: "15 killed in mass shooting in Sydney. And, Rob Reiner and his wife ..." - https://www.npr.org/2025/12/15/g-s1-102270/up-first-newsletter-hanukkah-sydney-bondi-beach-brown-university-shooting-rob-michele-reiner (Published 6 hours ago; overview of the attack and suspects).
Reuters: "Australia plans tougher gun laws after police say father and son ..." - https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/death-toll-climbs-16-after-mass-shooting-sydneys-bondi-beach-2025-12-14/ (Published 3 hours ago; focuses on government response and gun law reforms).
ABC News (Australia): "Vigils take place across the world in memory of Bondi Beach terror ..." - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/bondi-beach-shooting-terrorist-attack-december-16/106147374 (Published 2 hours ago; covers global vigils and community reactions).
NBC News: "Australia vows crackdown on guns, antisemitism after shooters kill 15" - https://www.nbcnews.com/world/australia/live-blog/bondi-beach-attack-live-updates-australia-guns-anti-semitism-hanukkah-rcna249254 (Published 3 hours ago; live blog on policy changes and antisemitism).
Al Jazeera: "What we know about the “Bondi hero” at Australia beach shooting" - https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/12/15/what-we-know-about-the-bondi-hero-at-australia-beach-shooting (Published 6 hours ago; details on the bystander hero).
Al Jazeera: "Bondi Beach attack: What do we know about the victims, suspects?" - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/15/bondi-beach-attack-what-do-we-know-about-the-victims-suspects (Published 5 hours ago; list of victims and suspects).
CNN: "Palestinian-Australian eyewitness recalls Bondi Beach shooting" - https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/15/world/video/bondi-beach-australia-eyewitness-palestinianvrtc-ldn-digvid (Published 3 hours ago; eyewitness testimony).
Washington Post: "Live updates: 15 killed in Bondi Beach shooting by father and son ..." - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/14/bondi-beach-shooting-australia/ (Published 55 minutes ago; live updates on terrorism classification).
Fox News: SEE IT: Bystander to Australian terror attack appears to disarm mass shooter-https://youtu.be/mGDJQKSMLBY
The Guardian: "Holocaust survivor, London-born rabbi and 10-year-old girl among victims of Bondi beach terror attack" - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/15/what-we-know-about-the-victims-of-the-bondi-beach-terror-attack
