Although anti-gun activists in the US cite Australia as a violence-free utopia due to the nation’s strict firearms laws, a recent tragedy in Sydney shows that nowhere can be completely protected from those intent on doing evil. A Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach ended in chaos, with a dozen people reported dead and even more hospitalized after gunfire rang out Sunday evening. Fox News provided some initial details: Police added that they found evidence of multiple improvised explosive devices in a vehicle near the scene of the attack. “We have our rescue bomb disposal unit there at the moment working on that,” he said. Israeli President Isaac Herzog acknowledged the attack while speaking at an event in Jerusalem recognizing immigrants’ extraordinary achievements on Sunday. “At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Chanukah on Bondi Beach,” Herzog said. “Our hearts go out to them. The heart of the entire nation of Israel misses a beat at this very moment, as we pray for the recovery of the wounded, we pray for them and we pray for those who lost their lives.” Footage of the event soon began to circulate widely on social media, including a clip of an individual apparently disarming one of the shooters in heroic fashion: Australian Mass Shooting At least 12 are dead & 29 injured after Naveed Akram — a radical Islamic terrorist — opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration. Don’t let the media whitewash this: This is terrorism. This is radical Islam. Stop allowing migrants from countries that hate… pic.twitter.com/te7TxeruHE — ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) December 14, 2025 An absolute hero in the white shirt.No idea who he is but as others ran for cover he ran up and tackled the Bondi beach gunman and disarmed him.He should be given everything Australia has in the way of honours.A true legend and hero. Rest in peace all the victims. pic.twitter.com/8Bu7ad8lsh — CraiginEngland (@ghost_wales) December 14, 2025 This is Ahmed El Ahmad. He disarmed the gunman on Bondi beach and likely saved many lives. He did it while the other terrorist was shooting at him and was hit twice. I hope this hero makes a full recovery. pic.twitter.com/5vacqHf5Rq — Heidi Bachram (@HeidiBachram) December 14, 2025 Australian officials were quick to condemn the act, as the Associated Press reported: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared it “an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.” “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” the state’s Premier Chris Minns said. The massacre was declared a terrorist attack due to the event targeted and weapons used, Lanyon said. Hundreds had gathered for the gathering at Bondi Beach called Chanukah by the Sea, which was celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival. Chabad identified one of the dead as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event. Chabad is an Orthodox Jewish movement that is known for its outreach to non-religious Jews. It runs scores of centers around the world that are popular with Jewish travelers and often sponsors large public events during major Jewish holidays. Video footage filmed by onlookers appeared to show two gunmen with long guns firing from a bridge. One dramatic clip apparently filmed by a member of the public and broadcast on Australian television channels showed someone appearing to tackle and disarm one of the gunmen, before pointing the man’s weapon at him. Here’s some additional coverage of the incident and the heroic interference that helped bring the massacre to an end: