Australian police stated on the 15th that the shooting incident that occurred the previous day at Bondi Beach in Sydney has resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including one suspect, and 40 injuries. The two suspects are a father and son.
The New South Wales police indicated that 14 people died at the scene of the shooting, and 2 others died in the hospital despite emergency treatment. The ages of the deceased range from 10 to 87. Currently, 40 wounded are being treated in hospital, with 5 in critical condition.
Police said the two suspects are a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. The 50-year-old man was shot dead at the scene and held a legal firearms license, permitting him to own 6 firearms.
On December 14th, thousands gathered at Bondi Beach to celebrate a Jewish festival. The two suspects, armed with guns, opened fire from a nearby bridge towards the crowd, firing dozens of shots and causing heavy casualties.
Australian Prime Minister Albanese described the incident as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community, “shocking and heartbreaking.”
This is the most serious mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which left 35 dead. The Port Arthur incident prompted a fundamental reform of Australia’s comprehensive gun control policies.