Bondi Beach gunmen had bombs, ISIS flags and foreign links, police say

Australian authorities mentioned Tuesday that the daddy and son who opened fireplace on households throughout a Hanukkah occasion at Sydney’s Bondi Seaside had loaded their car with improvised explosive units and do-it-yourself ISIS flags, elevating fears that the bloodbath was a part of a broader assault plan than initially believed.

At a press convention, investigators referred to as the daddy and son gunmen, aged 24 and 50, “cowards” who hunted Jewish Australians “in broad daylight.” Fifteen individuals have been killed and greater than 20 injured within the shootings, which police are actually formally describing as an ISIS-inspired terrorist assault.

New South Wales Police confirmed the youthful attacker’s car contained IEDs and two do-it-yourself ISIS flags. Proof, based on authorities, factors on to extremist inspiration and a transparent intention to hold out a bigger, coordinated assault. Forensic groups are nonetheless conducting ballistic and chemical examinations on the gadgets.

“This was a barbaric assault on Jewish Australians,” mentioned Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett. “They have been hunted in broad daylight.”

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stand behind NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns as he speaks throughout a press convention on the NSW Police Station, following a deadly capturing incident throughout a Jewish celebration at Bondi Seaside, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

Authorities mentioned they have been nonetheless working to find out whether or not the units have been purposeful or meant for secondary functions.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett, NSW Prime Minister Chris Minns, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley, attend a press convention throughout a go to to NSW Police Headquarters, following a deadly capturing throughout a Jewish vacation at Bondi Seaside, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

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New South Wales state police commissioner Mal Lanyon mentioned the suspects traveled to the Philippines final month. Their causes for the journey and the place they went within the Philippines could be investigated by investigators, Lanyon mentioned.

The area has lengthy been residence to ISIS-linked networks. Teams of Islamic separatist militants, together with Abu Sayyaf within the southern Philippines, have as soon as expressed help for ISIS and have hosted small numbers of international militant fighters from Asia, the Center East and Europe up to now.

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Nonetheless, a long time of navy offensives have considerably weakened Abu Sayyaf and related armed teams, and Philippine navy and police officers say there was no proof of international militants within the nation’s south not too long ago.

A lady kneels and prays at a floral memorial for the capturing victims outdoors the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Seaside in Sydney, Monday, December 15, 2025, a day after a capturing. (Mark Baker/AP Picture)

Officers mentioned there may be at present no proof that further attackers or enablers have been concerned in Sunday’s bloodbath, however officers warned that evaluation may change as investigators evaluation digital units, journey data and 1000’s of seized paperwork.

Tuesday marked the primary time officers confirmed their views on the suspects’ ideologies.

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There are greater than 20 individuals, ranging in age from 10 to 87, who’re nonetheless being handled in hospitals after Sunday’s bloodbath. Ten of them, together with three who stay in a kids’s hospital, are in important situation.

Among the many injured is Ahmed al Ahmed, a 42-year-old Syrian-born fruit store proprietor who was captured on video tackling and disarming an attacker earlier than pointing the person’s gun at him after which placing it on the bottom. He underwent surgical procedure on Wednesday for gunshot wounds to his left shoulder and higher physique.

Individuals collect round a tribute for capturing victims outdoors the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Seaside in Sydney, Monday, December 15, 2025, a day after the capturing. (Mark Baker/AP Picture)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who beforehand met Ahmed, referred to as him “a real Australian hero”.

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“We’re a brave nation. Ahmed al Ahmed represents one of the best of our nation. We is not going to enable this nation to be divided. That’s what the terrorists are searching for. We’ll unite. We’ll embrace one another and we are going to get by way of this,” Albanese added.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend a press convention at NSW Police headquarters following a deadly capturing throughout a Jewish celebration at Bondi Seaside, in Sydney, Australia, December 16, 2025. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

The aged gunman was shot useless on Tuesday whereas his son was additionally being handled at a hospital.

Albanians and the leaders of some Australian states have pledged to tighten the nation’s already strict gun legal guidelines in what could be essentially the most sweeping reforms since a gunman killed 35 individuals in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in 1996. Mass shootings in Australia have been uncommon since then.

Officers launched extra info as public questions and anger mounted on the third day after the assault over how the suspects have been capable of plan and carry it out and whether or not Australian Jews have been adequately shielded from rising anti-Semitism.

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The Albanians introduced plans to additional limit entry to weapons, partly as a result of it emerged that the aged suspect had legally amassed his stash of six weapons.

“The suspected killers, callous in the best way they allegedly coordinated their assault, appeared to haven’t any regard for the age or skill of their victims,” Barrett mentioned. “It seems that the alleged killers have been solely thinking about a seek for the physique rely.”