Australian authorities say the attackers behind a deadly assault on a Jewish religious festival in Sydney were likely inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS). The attack took place during Hanukkah celebrations near Bondi Beach and is being investigated as a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community.
Police said the two main suspects—a father and his son—had traveled to the Philippines last month, and the purpose of that visit is now under investigation. Philippine authorities are also cooperating in the probe. Security officials noted that ISIS-linked networks, though weakened in recent years, remain active in parts of southern Mindanao in the Philippines.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Chrissy Barrett told a press conference on Tuesday that preliminary findings indicate the attack was ideologically motivated by ISIS. She stressed that the incident should not be associated with any religion, but rather with individuals influenced by a terrorist organization.
According to police, an improvised explosive device (IED) and two handmade flags linked to ISIS were recovered from a vehicle registered in the name of a juvenile suspect. ISIS is designated as a terrorist organization by Australia and many other countries.
The shooting is being described as Australia’s deadliest gun attack in nearly 30 years. Authorities said the death toll has risen to 16, including one of the suspected attackers—a 50-year-old man who was killed by police gunfire. His 24-year-old son and another suspect were critically injured and are receiving treatment in hospital. Investigators allege that the father and son opened fire on hundreds of people at the festival for nearly 10 minutes.
At least 25 injured victims are currently being treated at hospitals across Sydney.
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, visited Bondi on Tuesday and urged the Australian government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Jewish communities in the country. Australian intelligence officials have said that amid a rise in antisemitic incidents over the past 16 months, threats driven by antisemitism are now their top priority.
Bondi Beach, one of Sydney’s most famous tourist destinations located about 8.2 kilometers from the city center, reopened to the public on Tuesday, though it remained largely empty under cloudy skies. Near the Bondi Pavilion, just meters from the site of the shooting, mourners gathered to lay flowers at a growing memorial.
