India Condemns Bondi Beach Shooting as Jaishankar Extends Support to Australia

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday, conveying India's deepest condolences over the Bondi Beach shooting that killed 15 people during Hanukkah celebrations.  "Just spoke to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Conveyed our deepest condolences about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered our fullest support," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the "ghastly terrorist attack" and reaffirmed India's zero tolerance towards terrorism, declaring solidarity with Australia in this hour of grief. PM Modi, in his statement, said India supports "the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism."

The terror attack at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday left 15 people dead after a father-son duo opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. New South Wales Police confirmed the suspects were ages 50 and 24, with the father killed by police at the scene while the son remains in critical condition.

What Happened During The Bondi Beach Attack?

Sunday evening began as a joyous celebration for around 1,000 families gathered for the "Chanukah by the Sea" event organized by Chabad of Bondi. Children played near the beach's playground while families prepared to light Hanukkah candles.

Without warning, two armed men wielding long guns opened fire indiscriminately into the crowd. Police discovered improvised explosive devices at the scene. The older shooter reportedly held a recreational hunting license, according to officials. Authorities are investigating whether a third individual was involved.

Who Stopped The Gunman At Bondi Beach?

Dramatic footage verified by NBC News shows a 43-year-old fruit shop owner, Ahmed al-Ahmed, tackling one gunman from behind and wrestling away his weapon. NSW Premier Chris Minns praised al-Ahmed as a "genuine hero," though he was shot twice during the struggle and required surgery.

Among the 15 confirmed dead was a 10-year-old child, Rabbi Eli Schlanger who helped organize the event, Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, and French citizen Dan Elkayam. Another 40 people were hospitalized, with five in critical condition as per CNN.

How Does This Compare To Major Global Mass Shootings?

The Bondi Beach shooting is Australia's deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where Martin Bryant killed 35 people at a tourist site in Tasmania.

Globally, the deadliest mass shooting by a lone individual remains the 2011 Norway attacks, where Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in twin attacks. In the United States, the 2017 Las Vegas shooting claimed 58 lives when Stephen Paddock fired over 1,000 rounds into a music festival crowd.

According to data from Northeastern University, mass killings in the United States recorded 17 incidents in 2025, the lowest since 2006. The 2024 data from Gun Violence Archive documented 586 mass shootings that resulted in 711 deaths across the country.

Other notable incidents include the 2015 Paris attacks where 130 people died across multiple locations, the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand that killed 51 people, and the 2014 Peshawar school massacre in Pakistan where 148 people, mostly children, were killed.

Research from Northeastern University indicates that between 1966 and 2012, nearly one-third of the world's public mass shootings occurred in the United States. Data from the Rockefeller Institute shows that global mass shooting incidents have more than doubled between 2000-2010 and 2011-2022.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared the incident an act of "evil antisemitism" and authorities continue to examine the attackers' backgrounds and potential connections to extremist networks.

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