At least 12 people were murdered and dozens wounded in a mass shooting incident at an outdoor Chanukah celebration in the Bondi Beach neighborhood of Sydney on Sunday evening in Australia, only about a half hour before the Jewish kehilla in the country lit the first Chanukah licht.

Chabad has reported that one of their shlichim, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, H’YD, was murdered. Another victim was a student at a local Jewish school.

According to reports from the scene, two terrorists opened fire from a bridge at a celebration organized by Chabad, where thousands were gathered, including many families with small children, at about 7 p.m. Australian time.

Those present began fleeing the scene in a panic, and many tried to hide. Witnesses said that it took a long time for police to arrive and neutralize the terrorists.

Local residents told Ynet, “This was expected,” one said. “The daily hatred toward Jews here is abnormal.” Another anonymous community member added, “We all knew it was just a matter of time, but some politicians dismissed our concerns.”

In videos of the scene, hundreds of people, including children, are seen fleeing, while rescue forces and volunteers carry out resuscitation attempts on dozens of victims.

New South Wales police said that the two suspects have been taken into custody.

Chaim Levy, a resident of Sydney who was at the scene with his children during the shooting and managed to escape, told Ynet, “It was an event organized by Chabad on the beach, and 400 people came to light the first candle, as we do every year. Suddenly we heard explosions, and we didn’t know what it was. I grabbed my son, and we hid behind a car until the shooting stopped, and then we ran to our car. My wife and daughter ran to another place, without shoes; we just fled. We left strollers and bags there. We’re in shock.”

Levy added that the level of security at the scene was very low: “There were only a few policemen, not like after October 7, and it took a long time for police reinforcements to arrive, something like fifteen minutes.”

Another Jew living in Sydney who participated in the event said, “There was a shooting and we just lay down on the grass. There is crazy chaos here; it is a disaster for our community. We knew this could happen.”

He also blamed the Australian government: “This is what happens after the government ignored all the previous attacks against us.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)