Prime minister says scenes at Bondi ‘shocking and distressing’
Tom McIlroy
Prime minister Anthony Albanese just released a statement. He said:
The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected.
I just have spoken to the AFP Commissioner and the NSW Premier. We are working with NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed.
I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police.
Key events
Speaking to 2GB, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, said the shooting happened during a Jewish community event on the beach organised for the first night of Hanukkah.
Ryvchin, who was not at the event, said he had spoken to the ECAJ’s director of media, who he alleged had been injured during the incident.
“Hundreds of people were gathered. It’s a family event,” said Ryvchin. He went on:
They heard like dozens of popping sounds. And people just started running, running over barricades, grabbing their children. It was mayhem.
I don’t think this was an attack just that happened to occur at Bondi Beach. I think this was very deliberate and very targeted.
Six people rushed to hospital after Bondi shooting
Graham Readfearn
The NSW Ambulance service has confirmed that six people have been taken to local hospitals following a shooting incident at Bondi beach.
An ambulance spokesperson could not say the nature of the injuries or the condition of the people taken to hospitals, but that ambulance staff had been treating people on the scene with gunshot injuries.
The service was called to area at 6.45pm to reports of multiple people shot, the spokesperson said. There were 25 units at the scene, including helicopters and intensive care units.
Four people had been taken to St Vincent’s hospital, one person had been taken to Royal Prince Alfred hospital and another to St George hospital.
Prime minister says scenes at Bondi ‘shocking and distressing’
Tom McIlroy
Prime minister Anthony Albanese just released a statement. He said:
The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected.
I just have spoken to the AFP Commissioner and the NSW Premier. We are working with NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed.
I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police.
There was a Hanukah event on at Bondi beach tonight. A listing describing the event said it was set to take place from 5pm to 9pm at the Bondi Park playground, with free admission.
The event was called Chanukah By The Sea and it was hosted by the Chabad of Bondi.
Sunday was the first day of the Jewish festival Hanukkah.
“Join Chabad of Bondi for our Annual Chanukah Festival as We Celebrate Jewish Life by lighting up the Iconic Bondi Beach,” an advertisement for the event states.
No other incident at Dover Heights, NSW police say
NSW police said there has been some misinformation spreading after the shooting. They confirmed there is no incident elsewhere, including at Dover Heights.
There have been NO reports of any incidents at Dover Heights – please do NOT share unconfirmed rumours.
Further updates will be provided here.
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) December 14, 2025
Police are still urging anyone in the Bondi beach area to take shelter, saying the incident is still developing.
Members of the public are being urged to avoid the area.
“Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand,” police said.
NSW police say two people in custody at Bondi Beach
NSW police just released a new statement, saying two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach. The police said:
Two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach; however, the police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area. Please obey ALL police directions. Do not cross police lines.
Two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach; however, the police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area. Please obey ALL police directions. Do not cross police lines.
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) December 14, 2025
Footage on the ABC shows dozens of emergency vehicles, including police units and ambulances, in the Bondi area.
Residents told the Guardian they can hear helicopters overhead.
NSW premier Chris Minns says footage ‘deeply distressing’
Statement from the NSW premier Chris Minns:
The reports and images coming out of Bondi tonight are deeply distressing.
Police and emergency services are responding and the public should follow official advice.
We will update the public as soon as more information becomes available.
Public requested to avoid area around Bondi
NSW police have just repeated a request for the public to avoid the Bondi area. In another statement posted on social media, police said:
Attention media – please share our message for members of the public to avoid Bondi Beach area as the police operation continues. We are still asking people in the area to take shelter until we can determine what is happening. We have media officer en route to scene, more information when confirmed.
NSW police confirm multiple calls on shooting in Bondi area
A NSW police spokesperson has told the Guardian they have received “multiple calls” from the public about shooting in the Bondi area.
A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said there had “definitely been a shooting in the area”, but that the situation was developing rapidly. They said:
We have many, many units in the area. We are definitely treating multiple people and have multiple vehicles [responding].
The ambulance service received their first calls for assistance just before 7pm. Incidents were centred on the Queen Elizabeth Drive area, the ambulance spokesperson added.
Reports of shooting incident in Sydney’s Bondi Beach area
We are hearing reports of a shooting incident in the Bondi Beach area. We will bring you more details as we have it.
NSW police are warning people to avoid the area. In a statement released on social media, the police said:
Police are responding to a developing incident at Bondi Beach and are urging the public to AVOID the area. Anyone at the scene should take shelter. Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand.
Police are responding to a developing incident at Bondi Beach and are urging the public to AVOID the area. Anyone at the scene should take shelter. Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand.
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) December 14, 2025
#Bondi #beach #shooting #live #updates #people #custody #urges #public #follow #police #guidance #shocking #distressing #scenes #South #Wales