Anti-Semitic attack in Sydney: Australian Muslim leaders and Council of Muslim Elders condemn Bondi Beach attack

Australian Muslim leaders, joined by the Council of Muslim Elders, have strongly condemned the anti-Semitic attack on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which claimed the lives of at least fifteen people and left many injured during an event marking the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The attack occurred near Bondi Park, where Jewish families had gathered to celebrate the first evening of the holiday. Australian police confirmed several deaths, including one of the attackers, indicating that the threat had been neutralized after the arrest of the suspects. The discovery of an improvised explosive device on the scene led to the establishment of a large security perimeter and the massive deployment of emergency services.

In a statement, the National Council of Imams of Australia expressed its solidarity with the victims and their loved ones, recalling that “violence and hate crimes have no place in Australian society”. The organization called for unity, compassion and vigilance in the face of rising extremism.

For its part, the Council of Muslim Elders, chaired by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, denounced an attack targeting innocent civilians, in total contradiction with the teachings of Islam and universal moral values. He insisted on the need to combat hate speech, anti-Semitism and all forms of racism, and to strengthen interreligious dialogue to preserve social peace.

Condemnations also poured in from the United Kingdom, notably from the Muslim Council of Britain, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the facts as “shocking and upsetting”. The authorities are continuing their investigations to establish all the circumstances of this anti-Semitic attack.