Australian authorities say the father-and-son gunmen who opened fire at a beachside Hanukkah celebration in Sydney were motivated by Islamic State (ISIS) ideology, in an attack that killed 15 people and left dozens wounded.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said investigators believe the pair had been radicalized by beliefs associated with ISIS, after police recovered two homemade ISIS flags and improvised explosive devices from a vehicle linked to the suspects.
The massacre unfolded Sunday evening at Bondi Beach during an annual Jewish holiday gathering. Police said the older suspect, 50, was shot dead at the scene; the younger suspect, 24, was seriously injured and remains hospitalized.
A growing focus on firearms access and prior intelligence leads
The shooting has triggered fresh scrutiny of Australia’s firearms licensing regime after officials confirmed the father was a licensed gun owner with multiple legally registered weapons. Albanese has signaled new restrictions, including tighter licensing checks and potential limits on firearm ownership.
Investigators are also revisiting earlier encounters with the younger suspect, who had previously come to the attention of authorities but was not assessed as an imminent threat at the time, according to Australian media reporting.
Travel to the Philippines under investigation
Authorities in Australia and the Philippines have confirmed the suspects traveled to the Philippines in November, listing Davao as a destination, and later returned to Australia—raising questions about possible overseas contacts or radicalization pathways, though officials have emphasized the investigation is still developing.
Community grief — and a bystander hailed as a hero
Amid nationwide mourning, Australians have praised a bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, who was wounded while tackling and disarming one of the attackers, an intervention officials say likely prevented even more deaths.
The attack has also intensified debate over antisemitism and security for Jewish institutions, as leaders face pressure to respond to a climate of rising threats and harassment.
