Bondi Beach Terror Attack: What Is Hanukkah And Why Pakistani Father-Son Duo Targeted Jewish Celebration
Bondi Beach Terror Attack: Following an assault on a public Hanukkah celebration in Sydney that left at least 16 people dead and several more injured, Australian officials are considering the tragic Bondi Beach shooting as a targeted act of terrorism. The assailants, Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed Akram, 24, are Pakistani nationals, according to investigators. They specifically targeted the Jewish community at a religious function, which has sparked fresh worries about antisemitic violence and extremist radicalization in Australia.
On December 14, 2025, Jewish families gathered to Bondi Beach for a “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration to commemorate the beginning of Hanukkah, one of the most important Jewish holidays. This is when the assault took place. As shooting broke out, witnesses reported scenes of terror, with casualties ranging in age from an elderly individual aged 87 to a 10-year-old youngster.
Hanukkah: What Is It?
The eight-day Jewish holiday known as Hanukkah, which translates to “dedication” in Hebrew, is sometimes called the “Festival of Lights.” It honors the rededication of Jerusalem’s Second Temple in 164 BCE after the Maccabees defeated the Syrian Greek kings who had vandalized it.
The oil miracle is central to Hanukkah. Jewish legend states that a little quantity of ritually clean oil, sufficient for one day, miraculously burned for eight days in the menorah of the Temple, giving time for the preparation of more oil. A unique menorah with nine branches, known as a hanukkiah, is lighted to commemorate the event. On each night of the celebration, one extra candle is lit.
Other customs include giving children Hanukkah gelt or presents, playing the dreidel game, and eating fried dishes like latkes and sufganiyot. Hanukkah festivities are increasingly taking place in public areas throughout many nations as a way to show cultural identity and religious freedom.
Why Was the Celebration Singled Out?
According to police and intelligence sources, antisemitism and extremist ideology were the driving forces behind the Bondi Beach assault. The killing was denounced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “an act of evil antisemitism and terrorism that struck at the heart of our nation,” highlighting the purposeful targeting of the Jewish population.
During further searches, investigators found two Islamic State (IS) flags and explosive materials from a car connected to the assailants, bolstering suspicions of terrorist motivation. Although Naveed Akram was not deemed an immediate danger at the time, authorities have acknowledged that he had previously been on Australia’s intelligence services’ radar.
While Naveed Akram is still in critical condition under police protection, Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the spot. One of Australia’s bloodiest mass-casualty events in decades was the Bondi Beach assault.