SYDNEY — Two people were taken into custody after reports of gunfire and injuries at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, New South Wales Police said Saturday, as officers urged the public to avoid the area during an ongoing operation.
Emergency services said eight people were transported to hospitals following the incident at the popular beachfront in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the nature of their injuries or whether there were any fatalities.
- Advertisement -
“The police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area,” NSW Police said in a post on X. No information on a possible motive or the identities of those detained was released.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported multiple injuries, while television networks Sky News and ABC broadcast footage showing people lying on the ground near the scene. The footage could not be independently verified.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was monitoring the situation. “We are aware of an active security situation in Bondi. We urge people in the vicinity to follow information from NSW Police,” the spokesperson said.
In a statement, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned what he described as a “very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach,” calling the assailants “vile terrorists.” Australian authorities have not confirmed a motive or whether a specific community or event was targeted.
Witness videos circulating on social media appeared to show beachgoers scattering as shots and sirens sounded. Police said they were assessing the scene and asked people to keep clear of the area to allow emergency responders to work.
Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most visited public spaces and typically draws large crowds on weekends and holidays. The reported shooting prompted an immediate and substantial police and ambulance presence, with roads around the beach cordoned off as responders moved injured people to ambulances.
Officials did not say whether the two people in custody were suspected of firing shots or whether investigators were searching for additional suspects. Authorities also did not specify the location of the reported gunfire within the Bondi precinct.
As details remained fluid, police emphasized that the situation was active and asked the public to rely on official channels for updates. The NSW Police social media accounts and government emergency services feeds were providing ongoing guidance.
This is a developing story. Further information will be provided as authorities release confirmed details.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
