Australia on Monday signalled plans to tighten gun laws as the nation mourned victims of its deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, after a father and son opened fire at a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, reports Reuters.
Police said the 50-year-old father was shot dead at the scene, bringing the death toll to 16, while his 24-year-old son remained in critical condition in hospital. Forty people were taken to hospital, including two police officers who were listed as serious but stable. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
Authorities did not formally identify the attackers, though Australian media named them as Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram. Police said the father had held a firearms licence since 2015 and owned six registered weapons. One suspect was known to authorities but had not been considered an immediate threat.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, while his son was Australian-born. Police did not specify the weapons used, though footage from the scene appeared to show a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun.
The attack has renewed debate over whether Australia’s already strict gun laws remain sufficient. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Cabinet would consider limits on the number of weapons allowed per licence and review how long licences should remain valid.
“People’s circumstances can change,” Albanese said. “People can be radicalised over time. Licences should not be in perpetuity.”
Witnesses said the shooting unfolded over about 10 minutes, sending around 1,000 people fleeing from the beachfront area. A bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the attackers has been hailed as a hero after being shot twice. A fundraising campaign for him raised hundreds of thousands of Australian dollars within a day.
Albanese described the shooting as “an act of pure evil” and said Australia would “do whatever is necessary to stamp out antisemitism.” World leaders, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, offered condolences.
The attack was Australia’s worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which led to sweeping gun reforms, and has left the country grappling with grief, security concerns and renewed scrutiny of firearm laws.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
