Father-Son Gunmen Named in Bondi Beach Massacre That Left 16 Dead

Police say a father and son carried out the horrifying mass shooting that left 16 people dead, including one of the gunmen, and 40 others hospitalized during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a Monday press conference that the attackers were a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son.

The father is dead, police said.
The son remains in critical but stable condition in a hospital.
Investigators said they are not searching for additional suspects.

Police said the father was a licensed gun owner with six legally registered firearms. All six have been recovered, some at the scene of the attack, with the remainder seized during search warrants executed at two separate locations.

“There was very little knowledge of either of these men by the authorities,” Lanyon said. “The person was determined to be entitled to have a firearms license and…the person had a firearms license for a number of years for which there were no incidents.”

Police also confirmed that two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found at one of the homes searched. The devices were taken into custody by a rescue and bomb disposal unit, determined to be active, and later rendered safe.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing; victims of the attack range in age from 10 to 87 years old.

The shooting happened during an annual celebration, known as “Chanukah By The Sea.” It was scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. to celebrate the first day of the Jewish holiday by lighting the first candle on the Menorah. The shooting happened around 6:45 p.m. local time.

Police say the attack “targeted” the Jewish community and is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

Back in the U.S., Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) used the tragedy as an opportunity to call for stricter gun laws.

Ilhan Omar uses the Australia Hannukah t*rrorist attack to call for more strict gun laws.

Australia already has strict gun laws. The t*rrorists still got guns.

Defenseless attendees sat helpless as police waited close to 20 minutes to engage the shooter. pic.twitter.com/m0w5mls9HK

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 15, 2025

Vice President JD Vance called for prayers for the victims of the horrific shooting.

“Wishing all of my Jewish friends in America a very Happy Hanukkah as they begin their celebration this evening. Please say a prayer for all of the victims of the terrible terrorist attack in Australia. May their memory be a blessing,” Vance posted.

Wishing all of my Jewish friends in America a very Happy Hanukkah as they begin their celebration this evening.

Please say a prayer for all of the victims of the terrible terrorist attack in Australia. May their memory be a blessing.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 15, 2025

At least 40 people remained hospitalized after the shooting, including two police officers, the agency confirmed. The shooting is the worst attack against Jews since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks.

This story is developing…

[h/t Fox News]