‘We do not give in to terror’: Canadians voice support for Sydney Hanukkah shooting victims

At least 16 people were killed and about 40 were injured in the Bondi Beach shooting, but some Canadian Jewish communities say they are moving ahead with their own celebrations.

There’s been an outpouring of grief and support from Canadians for the Jewish community in Australia, with many saying they’re “horrified” after two men shot and killed 16 people and injured 40 others at a Jewish holiday celebration at Sydney’s world-famous Bondi Beach on Sunday.

“I was really horrified,” said Bobbi Zahra, a Jewish woman living in Halifax who said she knows members of Sydney’s community. “I thought, ‘It’s Hanukkah. We can’t even have a Hanukkah celebration?’ I mean, Hanukkah itself back in the day was a political thing, it was about keeping off marauders, but Hanukkah today is a celebration of light, it’s a celebration of hope.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed Zahra’s comments about the horror of the incident, and said on X that Canadians stand with Jewish people “everywhere.”

“Canada stands with the people of Australia and Jewish people everywhere in sorrow, and determination never to bow to terrorism, violence, hatred and intimidation,” Carney wrote.

The violence erupted at the end of a hot summer day when thousands had flocked to the beach, including hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.

Police said emergency services were called to Bondi about 6:45 p.m. local time, responding to reports of shots being fired. Video filmed by onlookers showed people in bathing suits running from the water as shots rang out. Separate footage showed two men in black shirts with rifles firing from a footbridge leading to the beach as sirens wailed and people cried out in the background.

One dramatic clip broadcast on Australian television showed a man appearing to tackle and disarm one of the gunmen, before pointing the man’s weapon at him, then setting the gun on the ground.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called the unidentified man a “genuine hero.”