Was Iran behind Bondi beach terror attack? Israeli intelligence identifies Tehran as prime suspect in Sydney Hanukkah massacre
The Bondi Beach terror attack may have been carried out by an Iranian-backed foreign terror cell, Israeli intelligence services believe.
Authorities cited Tehran as the prime suspect behind the massacre that left 15 people dead including a ten-year-old girl, according to Israeli media reports.
There was also speculation about possible links between the massacre and groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
However, Australian officials are yet to confirm if there was any foreign involvement in the attack that targeted Jews celebrating the first day of Hanukkah.
Two gunmen, who are alleged to be Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father, opened fire on more than 1,000 people attending a festival at 6.47pm local time on Sunday.
Israeli intelligence sources said the terror attack appeared to be sophisticated and well-planned, adding it had the hallmarks of Unit 910, Hezbollah's external operations arm.
An Iranian link to the massacre would fit with a pattern of terror plots uncovered in Australia in recent years.
Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney's south-west, is alleged to be one of the gunmen who shot at crowds on Bondi Beach
Police are seen working to assist multiple people lying injured on the floor
Matilda, 10, died at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick overnight after she was fatally wounded during the Bondi Beach terror attack
In August, Australia's government ordered Iran's ambassador out of the country over allegations he had directed attacks against Jewish targets in Sydney and Melbourne.
These included a firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne on December 6 last year and an arson attack on a cafe in Sydney two months earlier.
Mike Burgess, one of Sydney's intelligence chiefs, said at the time his team had uncovered links 'between the alleged crimes and the commanders in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC'.
Intelligence services also claimed links had emerged between Iran and other anti-Semitic incidents in Australia since the October 7 massacre in Israel in 2023.
These include a series of attacks on schools, synagogues and homes.
Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz told The Telegraph: 'Given the short history of Iranian activity and 910 in Australia, they are definitely suspects and high on the priority list.'
Ronen Solomon, an Israeli intelligence expert on Hezbollah, added: 'Australia has long been known to be a hub for Hezbollah and, so it could even be a joint operation between Hezbollah and Quds Force.'
'But this will mean it's going to be very hard to pin this incident on them as Iran will want to cover this up as an anti-Semitic incident.'
Yesterday, British-born Eli Schlanger, who was assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, was named as one of those killed in the attack.
Father-of-two Ahmed al Ahmed, from Sydney, was hailed a hero for tackling one of the gunmen before wrestling his weapon away from him.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
At least 15 civilians were killed after two terrorists targeted a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach
Video shared on social media shows the gunman then backing away.
Mr al Ahmed's family said the 43-year-old fruit shop owner remains in hospital with bullet wounds to his arm and hand, and called him a '100 per cent hero', while New South Wales premier Chris Minns praised him as a 'genuine hero'.
Malcolm Lanyon, the commissioner of New South Wales Police, said the older of the two gunmen had a licence for six weapons and added that these were guns found to have been used in the attack.
He also said that two 'active' explosive devices had been found and were taken away by a bomb disposal unit and 'rendered safe'.
He said the IEDs were 'fairly basic in terms of construction' and added: 'I'm very glad that those devices were not activated.'
Mr Lanyon said that properties in the Campsie and Bonnyrigg areas of the city had been searched.
At a press conference, he said that reports that a black Isis flag was draped over the attacker's car 'would form part of the investigation'.
He added that police were confident that there was not a third person involved in the attack.
He earlier said that one of the offenders had been known to authorities but there had been no 'specific threat'.
Akram is alleged to have coldly fired around 50 bullets into the gathered crowd
Rabbi Eli Schlanger (pictured) was one of the organisers for the Chanukah by the Sea event allegedly targeted by the gunmen at Bondi Beach on Sunday
In a message to the people of Australia, the King said he was 'appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack'.
Charles, who is head of state in the Commonwealth nation and visited Bondi Beach in 2012, said in a statement: 'My wife and I are appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people attending the Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach.
'Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected so dreadfully, including the police officers who were injured while protecting members of their community.
'We commend the police, emergency services and members of the public whose heroic actions no doubt prevented even greater horror and tragedy.
'In times of hurt, Australians always rally together in unity and resolve. I know that the spirit of community and love that shines so brightly in Australia - and the light at the heart of the Chanukah festival - will always triumph over the darkness of such evil.'
In a personal signed message on social media, the Prince and Princess of Wales said: 'Our thoughts are with every Australian today following the terrible attack at Bondi Beach.
'We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and stand with the Jewish community in grief.
'We are also thinking about the bravery of the emergency responders, particularly the two injured officers. W & C.'
The family of Mr Schlanger described him as a 'joyful rabbi'.
The father-of-five grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, and had family at Kinloss Synagogue in Finchley, according to Jewish News.
The 41-year-old and his wife, Chayala, celebrated the birth of their youngest child, a boy, two months ago.
His cousin, Brighton-based Rabbi Zalman Lewis, told Jewish News: 'How can a joyful rabbi who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?'
This is the moment police took down the alleged Bondi Beach terrorists after gunmen killed at least 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration
Two armed men in black are shown firing rifles near Bondi Pavilion
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday night confirmed the incident was an act of terrorism and anti-Semitism
Mr Minns told a press conference: 'This attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah. What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying, evil attack.'
'Our heart bleeds for Australia's Jewish community tonight,' he added.
Witness Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, told the Associated Press: 'You heard a few pops, and I freaked out and ran away. I started sprinting. I just had that intuition. I sprinted as quickly as I could.
'Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible.'
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said Sunday had been a 'dark day in our nation's history'.
He told reporters: 'What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location.'
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the Metropolitan Police are increasing officers' visibility in Jewish communities before any Hanukkah events.
In a post on X, Mr Khan said: 'My thoughts and condolences - along with the rest of London - are with everyone affected by the horrific attack at Bondi Beach, Australia today.'
A statement from the Met said: 'While there is no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London, this morning we are stepping up our police presence, carrying out additional community patrols and engaging with the Jewish community to understand what more we can do in the coming hours and days.
'We always encourage the public to be vigilant at events and in public places. If you see anything suspicious, trust your instincts and tell us.'
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day festival usually observed in December.
The Prime Minister is understood to have been in touch with Mr Albanese and the CST (Community Security Trust), a charity which provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer said in a post on X: 'Chanukah should be a time of celebration and joy.
'The news that the Bondi Beach attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event is sickening.
'My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
'The United Kingdom will always stand with Australia and the Jewish community. We are actively working with the CST on the policing of Chanukah events.'
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told any British people caught up in the shooting to contact the British consulate for support.
