By Kat Wong and Melissa Meehan
Two men who killed 15 people, including a child, and injured dozens more in a terrorist attack at one of the world’s most famous beaches were father and son.
Hundreds of people had gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when the pair opened fire.
At least 16 people are dead and 42 others injured in a terrorist attack authorities say was designed to target the Jewish community.
NSW Police commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed the men were related.
“The offenders are a 50-year-old and 24-year-old male, who are father and son. The 50-year-old is deceased,” he told reporters.
The father had a gun licence for 10 years, and had six guns – all of which have been accounted for.
Multiple police officers exchanged fire with the two men, with a constable and probationary constable now recovering in hospital in serious but stable conditions.
During the incident the father was shot by police and died at the scene.
The son suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
Investigators are no longer looking for a third gunman.
Police say 13 people died at the scene and another two people, a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man have since died in hospital.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the victims range in age from as young as 10 to 87.
“A devastating fact,” he told reporters.
Mr Minns said a strong and clear repudiation of “cancerous” anti-Semitism was needed in all of its forms.
“There’s no tolerance for racism or Jewish hatred in New South Wales or Australia and we need to be clear and unambiguous that we’ll fight it everywhere we see it.”
As many as 12 people remain in critical conditions with the others in serious and stable conditions.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 15 overnight, including a 10-year-old child and a French national.
Three other children are being treated in hospital, Mr Park said.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel’s brother-in-law, also a rabbi, was killed in the attack and the family was broken.
“The Rabbi’s wife and her best friend both lost their husbands,” Mr Kastel told reporters.
“The Rabbi’s got a baby only a few months old.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the ambush on the Jewish festival of light, describing it as an “act of pure evil”.
“This was an attack deliberately targeted at the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, which of course should be a joyous celebration,” Mr Albanese told reporters.
“We will do whatever is necessary to stamp out anti-Semitism. It is a scourge and we will eradicate it together.”
One of the gunmen is in a serious condition in custody and is expected to face court after police raided a house at Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest.
The pair lived together at the home but were staying at a short term rental in Campsie prior to the shooting.
Australia’s policing and intelligence agencies have faced some criticism over their response.
Witnesses recalled the shooting lasting for five minutes before police intervened, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation acknowledged one of the alleged gunmen was known to them, though he was not seen as an immediate threat.
The shooting has officially been declared a terrorist incident, which will allow ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and its state counterpart to deploy special powers as it investigates the shooting.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said Bondi Beach has always been the greatest place in Australia to celebrate the thousands-year old festival but it is now tarnished.
“(Hanukkah) can never signify what it’s meant to signify, a pure moment of joy and family. It will never be that again,” he told AAP.
“The government must own its failures and act to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
World leaders have reacted to the shooting, many sending their thoughts and prayers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his past criticism of Mr Albanese, saying he had warned the Australian government in August that its policy was promoting and encouraging anti-Semitism in Australia.
“Anti-Semitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent; it retreats when leaders act. I call upon you to replace weakness with action, appeasement with resolve,” Mr Netanyahu said.
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