Police say at least 10 people have been killed in a shooting near a Jewish gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
One shooter was killed, while another is in custody.
Authorities say there is no longer an active threat but have urged people to avoid the area.
Warning: This story contains details which may distress some audience members.
Sarah Frydman and her daughter Scarlett were attending a bar mitzvah in the area when the shooting started.
“At about 6:40[pm] people started screaming, telling us to run inside. So we ran in behind the kitchen and we were just hiding in a room,” she told ABC reporter Nick Dole.
“There were lots of children there. The parents weren’t there because this was a kid’s party basically. And [there were] lots of kids crying. It was really horrible.”
Ms Frydman estimates she heard 50 or 60 shots.
“It just didn’t stop,” she said.
Ms Frydman and her daughter stayed inside the room behind the kitchen for roughly half an hour before police moved them into a hall.
“[The police] just said, ‘Get down low, stay away from the windows.’ And we sat in there for about an hour.”
We’re expecting a press conference from NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon to kick off shortly.
We’ll bring you updates here as they speak.
Julian Leeser, a Jewish federal MP, has described the shooting as a “terror attack” and a “horrifying tragedy”.
“Tonight’s unfolding terror attack at Bondi Beach, occurring on the first night of Chanukah, is a horrifying tragedy,” he said.
“For Australians, tonight has turned into one of grief and shock.
“We must come together, check in on one another, support our Jewish friends, and to offer comfort where it is needed.
“My heart goes out to those who were in Bondi, spending time with their family and friends, only to be confronted with fear and violence.
“Our Jewish community, which is known for its courage and stoicism, is shaken tonight.
“I want to thank the NSW Police officers, paramedics, other first responders and members of the public who moved swiftly to protect lives and secure the area under extremely difficult circumstances.
“Even in darkness, light endures. Tonight, the values at the heart of Chanukah matter more than ever.”
ABC reporter Digby Werthmuller is speaking to Finn, a witness who says he was Facetiming his family back home in London when the shooting broke out.
“I could hear fireworks going off — that’s what it sounded like, anyway,” he says.
“I told my mum I’d go have a look, almost show her the view, in a way, and the next thing you know I saw a white car with a guy firing from his car, and I saw an older lady who was killed.”
ABC deputy head of communications Sally Jackson was in North Bondi when she said she heard about 20 shots fired and saw people running from the beach in their swimmers.
She said women and their children were knocking on gates and asking to shelter at nearby homes.
“There was like Jewish women and children, incredibly distressed, very, very distressed and scared, who went upstairs to the bedroom here and stayed here until we could arrange for family members to come and pick them up,” Ms Jackson said.
A senior law enforcement official has confirmed that one of the gunmen was Narveed Akram from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s south-west.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Akram’s home in Bonnyrigg is currently being raided by police.
The ABC’s Jeremy Fernandez is on the scene at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, where he says staff are being called in to deal with the surge of patients after this evening’s shootings.
He points out the hospital is quite close to where the Bondi Junction stabbings took place in April last year.
“People are just absolutely struck by this this evening … the feeling in the newsroom was one of familiarity,” he says.
The prime minister has called senior ministers together for a meeting of Cabinet’s National Security Committee in response to the deadly Bondi attacks.
Anthony Albanese is receiving briefings from “all security agencies”, including the Australian Federal Police, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
Mr Burke is one of nine ministers on the NSC, which comes together to consider the “highest priority and highest risk national security matters”. Its decisions do not need cabinet approval.
The Australian National Imams Council and the Council of Imams NSW have released a statement on behalf of the Australian Muslim community unequivocally condemning this evening’s shootings at Bondi.
“These acts of violence and crimes have no place in our society. Those responsible must be held fully accountable and face the full force of the law,” the statement says.
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those who witnessed or were affected by this deeply traumatic attack.
“We acknowledge the pain, fear, and distress felt across the community and extend our sincere compassion and support to all who are grieving.
“We urge the community to remain vigilant, exercise caution, and support one another during this challenging time.
“This is a moment for all Australians, including the Australian Muslim community, to stand together in unity, compassion, and solidarity, rejecting violence in all its forms and affirming our shared commitment to social harmony and the safety of all Australians.”
Sydney local Marley Carroll has just spoken to News Channel and said the day “was just like any Sunday arvo at Bondi” when the shooting began.
“I think it was two shots at first, and everyone looked back — it came from North Bondi — everyone looked back,” he told the ABC.
“At first I thought, ‘Oh, it’s nothing to worry about’ because you just wouldn’t think something like that [is] happening in Sydney.
“And then we just saw a rush of people run towards us, coming from North Bondi, they were running away from the shooter to us.
“That’s when we realised everyone around us was just running and people were running on the roads, car horns going off, people were crying and I recall a group of girls running past us saying, ‘He’s shooting people, he’s shooting people.’
“And that’s just when it clicked that like it’s actually happening. You just wouldn’t think something like that to happen in Bondi, Sydney at of all places. It was just surreal.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has tweeted that the prime minister is being briefed on the situation.
“I’m horrified by the news from Bondi,” he wrote.
“The Prime Minister is being briefed directly by all security agencies.
“All Australians stand together with the victims and against this appalling act of violence.”
ABC reporter Isobel Roe has captured an image of people hosing blood off surf lifesaving boards.
As we reported earlier 10 people have been killed in the shooting, including one gunman.
NSW Police say the other shooter, who they have in custody, is in a critical condition.
Police say the number of casualties from the scene is expected to rise as the operation continues.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has reacted to reports of this evening’s shooting at Bondi, where a Jewish celebration was taking place.
Some of the information he relays is incorrect, such as there being five shooters, but his main message is one of prayers for the victims — as well as a pointed message to the Australian government to tackle antisemitism.
“Our heart goes out to them. Our heart misses a beat. The entire nation of Israel misses a beat in this very moment as we pray for the recovery of the wounded … and we pray for those who lost their lives,” he says.
“We send our warmest strength from here, from Jerusalem, and we repeat our words, time and again, to the Australian government, to take action to fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.”
ABC reporter Fiona Willan spoke to Richard Hasten, who attended Chanukah by the Sea just before 5pm.
“My grandson was playing at the petting zoo. Everything was fine,” he said.
About 6:30pm, he heard three bangs from the walk bridge and initially thought it could have been a balloon bursting before he realised it was a shooting.
“I took cover. I was laying down and a woman was right in front of me and I could see she was bleeding right in front of me … so I took my shirt off to stop the bleeding.”
He says he thinks the bullet may have grazed her skull but she is now “fine”.
Mr Hasten’s son became “hysterical” when he was separated from his wife and child, but they have since been reunited.
“A beautiful day in Bondi spoiled by someone full of hate.”
NSW Police say the shooter they have in custody is in a critical condition. The other shooter died earlier this evening.
Police say the number of casualties from the scene is expected to rise as the operation continues.
They’re also appealing for anyone with mobile phone or dashcam footage relevant to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The shooting appears to have taken place at the northern end of Bondi Beach, near Bondi Park Playground.
We don’t yet have any information about the target or nature of the shooting, but a Chanukah by the Sea event was scheduled to take place at that playground from 5pm, and it had begun.
Today is the first day of Chanukah, or Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish festival of lights.
Police are reiterating that the public still needs to avoid Bondi Beach despite the two shooters having been neutralised.
There is an ongoing bomb threat in the area, police say, and they are working to disarm what they’ve described as an IED, or improvised explosive device.
Police media have confirmed to the ABC that 10 people have died in this evening’s shooting at Bondi Beach, including one of the shooters and nine victims.
Twelve people were also injured, including multiple police officers responding to the incident.
A second shooter is among the injured, and is in custody.
