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What Really Happened At Bondi Beach? Full Timeline Of Sydney Mass Shooting Explained As Tragedy Leaves 12 People Dead

By Samira Vishwas

At least 12 people are dead, and 29 more are hurt including two police officers after two gunmen started shooting into a crowded group celebrating Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday night.

It was just after 6:40 pm, the start of Hanukkah, and the beachfront was packed with families. People were dancing, eating sweets, kids were climbing a rock wall.

Gunmen Open Fire at Bondi Beach, Dozens Injured

Then, chaos. Around 6:47 pm, witnesses heard what sounded like up to 50 gunshots. Panic took over. People sprinted off the sand and onto Campbell Parade, ducking behind cars and scrambling for cover wherever they could find it.

Some just dropped to the ground and tried to help the wounded, giving CPR right there on the pavement.

Footage from the scene showed a gunman in a dark top and white pants, firing a rifle near the beach while sirens wailed. At one point, he even stopped to reload, the screams rising over the noise. Witnesses said there were at least two shooters, both dressed in black, firing from the pedestrian bridge that connects Campbell Parade to Bondi Pavilion.

Within seconds, what had been a joyful night for the Jewish community turned into a nightmare. Police and ambulances raced to North Bondi at least three dozen vehicles. Helicopters buzzed overhead. Officers warned locals to stay away. The riot squad showed up.

Online, videos popped up showing hundreds of people running for their lives. In the chaos, one civilian stepped up tackling a gunman and wrestling away his rifle near the Campbell Parade car park. People nearby caught it all on video. Police say that act of bravery probably saved lives.

Hanukkah Celebration Turns Deadly in Bondi Beach Shooting

By 7:30pm, the shock was still settling in. Vladimir Kotlyar, a local chaplain, ended up right in the thick of it. “I was right in the middle of it, guys. They were shooting us like we were enemy,” he told a TV reporter, still wearing a shirt smeared with blood from helping the wounded. “There’s a lot more than dozens. Dead, Rabbi. Dead. Kids hurt. What can I tell you?”

He described how he shielded his eight-year-old son when the shooting started. “I was lying on top of my son. Then another injured guy fell on top of me… My son’s okay. The injured guy is okay. I’m okay.” Kotlyar said he saw two gunmen firing rifles and a shotgun into the crowd, hitting anyone—old people, young people, kids. “Brains blown out. Just like in the movie. In Bondi.”

He tried to help a security guard shot in the shoulder. He saw two girls get hit, one maybe twelve, the other even younger. “This was a Jewish festival of celebration. Bringing the light into darkness. The darkness came to us today, to Australia, to Bondi Beach, to Sydney.”

Police locked down the area and found several suspicious items nearby. They said they were checking what looked like an improvised explosive device. Officers and a bystander helped victims near the sand while paramedics worked under floodlights.

At a 10 pm press conference, NSW Police raised the death toll from 10 to 12, including one of the suspected shooters. They’ve got the second alleged gunman in custody, but he’s in critical condition. Two police officers are among the injured, and at least 29 people have been taken to hospitals throughout Sydney.

The beach, usually full of life, turned into a scene of heartbreak—paramedics and police working desperately, bodies on the ground, civilians and emergency crews doing CPR, and the whole city reeling from the devastation.

Tragedy at Sydney Beach

People who’d just lived through the chaos gave raw interviews on live TV, their voices shaky and overwhelmed.

More than 100 Jewish Sydneysiders had gathered for Hanukkah by the Sea when the attack hit. What was supposed to be a joyful celebration turned into a nightmare.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler didn’t hold back. He called it a “horrific act of violence” during what should have been a sacred, happy moment. “This is a day of profound grief,” he said. “Members of our community have been murdered. Others are seriously injured. Families are shattered. A moment of light has been turned into darkness. An attack on Jews celebrating their faith is an attack on Australia itself.”

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News that the Hanukkah event was packed with families. “If this was a targeted attack on the Jewish community, then it’s exactly what we’ve always feared.”

While the shock was still fresh, NSW Premier Chris Minns called the situation “deeply distressing” and urged people to listen to police and emergency services. “We’ll update the public as soon as we know more,” he promised.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was watching the situation in Bondi Beach closely, echoing police calls for people to stay away from the area.

As the night dragged on, police made it clear: Bondi Beach was closed. They were still dealing with a suspected explosive device. “There’s an ongoing bomb threat,” NSW police warned, telling everyone to steer clear. Authorities also reminded people to be careful about what they saw online misinformation was already spreading and said no other similar incidents had been reported in Sydney.

By 10pm, emergency services and the Premier faced the cameras. The numbers were gutting: at least 12 people dead, 29 injured. “Horrible acts of violence will not be tolerated,” Premier Minns said. “Anyone who even thinks about doing this will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. This is a terrible night for Sydney, but we can’t let evil people divide us.”

A little later, just after 10pm, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the country. He didn’t mince words. “We will eradicate this kind of violence,” he said.

“There’s been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi, at the Hanukkah celebration. This was a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah a day that should have been filled with joy. Instead, evil, anti-Semitism, and terrorism have struck at the heart of our nation. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian. Tonight, like all of you, I’m devastated by what’s happened to our way of life.”

ALSO READ: Australia Horror: Two Men Armed With Guns Open Fire At Bondi Beach During Hanukkah Celebration, 10 Killed As Cops Neutralize Shooters

Ashish Kumar Singh

The post What Really Happened At Bondi Beach? Full Timeline Of Sydney Mass Shooting Explained As Tragedy Leaves 12 People Dead appeared first on NewsX.

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