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16 Dead, Dozens Hurt As Terror Probe Launched After Beachfront Shooting
Photo credit: Bondi Rescue
Bondi Beach, usually a picture of calm and crowds enjoying the sea, turned into a scene of terror on Sunday evening, December 14, 2025, after a mass-casualty shooting left 16 people dead and at least 40 others injured, authorities confirmed.
The attack happened at around 6:40 p.m., when emergency services rushed to Bondi Beach following reports of gunfire in a public area. Police say two armed men using long firearms opened fire on crowds, triggering panic as people fled for safety.
Officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, nearby units, and specialist teams quickly responded. A gunfight followed, during which two police officers—a constable and a probationary constable—were shot. Both officers are now in serious but stable condition.
One of the suspects, a 50-year-old man, was shot by police and died at the scene. The second suspect, a 24-year-old man, was critically wounded and taken to hospital under police guard. Authorities confirmed the two suspects knew each other.
By the end of the night, police confirmed that 14 people—including the older shooter—died at the scene, while 42 others, including four children and the younger suspect, were rushed to hospitals across Sydney. Tragically, two more victims—a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man—later died in hospital, bringing the death toll to 16.
Victims have not yet been formally identified, but police believe their ages range from 10 to 87 years old. As of Monday, six people remain in critical condition, while 27 others are listed as serious but stable.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM has officially declared the incident terror-related, prompting the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) to take over the investigation under Operation Arques. The JCTT includes personnel from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, ASIO, and the NSW Crime Commission.
Investigators have already recovered a disturbing cache of weapons. Three firearms and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were initially found at the scene. Overnight raids at homes in Bonnyrigg and Campsie led to the seizure of two more firearms. On Monday, December 15, detectives located a sixth firearm and a third IED at the Bondi crime scene. All items are now undergoing forensic examination.
A separate critical incident investigation, known as Strike Force Belen, has been launched by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad to review the circumstances surrounding police actions during the incident. This probe will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC).
Authorities are urging the public to stay alert and help investigators piece together what led to the attack. Anyone with information about extremist activity or potential threats—no matter how small—is encouraged to contact the National Security Hotline at 1800 123 400.
As Sydney mourns, Bondi remains under tight security, with police promising further updates as the investigation continues into one of the deadliest public attacks the city has seen in years.
The attack happened at around 6:40 p.m., when emergency services rushed to Bondi Beach following reports of gunfire in a public area. Police say two armed men using long firearms opened fire on crowds, triggering panic as people fled for safety.
Officers from the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, nearby units, and specialist teams quickly responded. A gunfight followed, during which two police officers—a constable and a probationary constable—were shot. Both officers are now in serious but stable condition.
One of the suspects, a 50-year-old man, was shot by police and died at the scene. The second suspect, a 24-year-old man, was critically wounded and taken to hospital under police guard. Authorities confirmed the two suspects knew each other.
By the end of the night, police confirmed that 14 people—including the older shooter—died at the scene, while 42 others, including four children and the younger suspect, were rushed to hospitals across Sydney. Tragically, two more victims—a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man—later died in hospital, bringing the death toll to 16.
Victims have not yet been formally identified, but police believe their ages range from 10 to 87 years old. As of Monday, six people remain in critical condition, while 27 others are listed as serious but stable.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM has officially declared the incident terror-related, prompting the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) to take over the investigation under Operation Arques. The JCTT includes personnel from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, ASIO, and the NSW Crime Commission.
Investigators have already recovered a disturbing cache of weapons. Three firearms and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were initially found at the scene. Overnight raids at homes in Bonnyrigg and Campsie led to the seizure of two more firearms. On Monday, December 15, detectives located a sixth firearm and a third IED at the Bondi crime scene. All items are now undergoing forensic examination.
A separate critical incident investigation, known as Strike Force Belen, has been launched by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad to review the circumstances surrounding police actions during the incident. This probe will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC).
Authorities are urging the public to stay alert and help investigators piece together what led to the attack. Anyone with information about extremist activity or potential threats—no matter how small—is encouraged to contact the National Security Hotline at 1800 123 400.
As Sydney mourns, Bondi remains under tight security, with police promising further updates as the investigation continues into one of the deadliest public attacks the city has seen in years.
Dec 15, 2025
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