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A man strolls along Bondi Beach’s promenade, gazing at a floral tribute honoring the victims of a mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025. — Reuters
– Prime Minister Albanese states the suspected shooter will be charged within hours.
– Authorities investigate links between the shooters and Daesh; interviews are anticipated.
– The family of a wounded police officer reports he lost an eye.
One of two men believed to have carried out Australia’s worst mass shooting in thirty years is expected to face charges later Wednesday, as funeral services for the Jewish victims of Sunday’s attack commence. The alleged father-and-son team opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s renowned Bondi Beach, an event that shocked the country and raised concerns about increasing antisemitism and extremism.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son, identified by local media as Naveed, emerged from a coma on Wednesday after also being shot by officers.
Albanese mentioned in a podcast interview Wednesday morning that charges are imminent: “He will be formally charged, if not already, in the coming hours.” Authorities plan to question the son once he is off medication and his legal counsel is present. He remains hospitalized in Sydney under tight police supervision.
The suspects traveled to the southern Philippines weeks before the attack, a region known for ongoing militant activity. Australian police indicated the assault was likely inspired by Daesh, also known as ISIS.
President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House Hanukkah event late Tuesday, expressed his thoughts for the victims and condemned the attack as “horrific and antisemitic terrorist violence.”
Funeral services have begun for the victims. Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi and father of five, was laid to rest Wednesday. Schlanger was noted for his dedication to Sydney’s Jewish community, traveling to prisons and connecting with Jewish residents in public housing, according to Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin.
A photo shows mourners gathering at Chabad of Bondi synagogue during his funeral in Sydney, December 17, 2025. — Reuters
Albanese faces criticism that his center-left government did not do enough to curb antisemitism during the recent two-year Israel-Gaza conflict. He assured the community: “We will work closely with the Jewish community to eliminate antisemitism from our society.”
Questions remain about how Sajid Akram legally obtained high-powered rifles and shotguns used in the attack, prompting calls for comprehensive gun law reforms. In 2019, Akram’s son was briefly investigated over alleged Daesh associations, but authorities found no evidence at that time linking him to threats.
Albanese also paid tribute to Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, who tackled one of the gunmen to disarm him despite being wounded himself. Al-Ahmed’s family in Syria said he left Idlib nearly 20 years ago seeking work in Australia. His uncle, Mohammed, expressed pride: “We learned about his bravery through social media. We called his father, and they told us that Ahmed is a hero. Australia and Syria are proud of him.”
The police officer wounded during the attack, Jack Hibbert, 22, who had been on duty just four months, lost sight in one eye and faces a lengthy recovery, his family announced Wednesday. Despite injuries, Hibbert acted with urgency and selflessness, continuing to assist others until unable to do so.
Twenty-two individuals remain hospitalized across Sydney. Among the victims was a Holocaust survivor, a couple who confronted the gunmen before they started firing, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, whose father emphasized the importance of remembering her as a symbol of resilience. The family of the young girl, who came from Ukraine, asked that her legacy not be forgotten, highlighting her Australian identity.
In Bondi, local residents gathered on the beach to observe a moment of silence, expressing unity and collective mourning. A young man, Archie Kalaf, reflected, “This week has been very impactful. Everyone’s grieving and processing in their own way, but there’s a strong sense of community coming together.”
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