Bondi Beach Shooting: Police Slammed for Being 'Frozen' During Rampage

Fifteen people were killed in a father-and-son shooting rampage at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, 14 December 2025. The shooters, armed with legally acquired firearms, targeted Jewish worshippers celebrating Hanukkah, leaving dozens more injured.

On Monday, 15 December 2025, authorities revealed that the father-son duo responsible for the massacre was the 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old accomplice, his father, Sajid Akram.

The deadly rampage has killed 15 victims with ages ranging from 10 to 87 years old, with the majority belonging to the local Jewish community. The attack has since been declared a terrorist incident with antisemitic motivations.

Survivors described the horrifying ordeal, with many criticising police for appearing to be 'frozen' throughout the 20-minute shooting

Police are now being slammed by many, especially with the fact that a 43-year-old bystander and a Muslim fruit seller named Ahmed al Ahmed tackled one of the gunmen and wrestled the firearm away from him during the attack.

Eyewitness Shmulik Scuri saw four police officers who just 'froze' during the horrifying massacre, saying that he didn't 'understand why' the authorities just stood there.

Scuri shared that he was with his family when the suspects began firing at the crowd of worshippers from a nearby bridge.

On the video circulating on social media, Scuri recalled, 'For 20 minutes. They shoot, shoot. Change magazines. And just shoot.'

Scuri said that he saw 4 police officers not firing back at the suspects. 'Twenty minutes, there were four policemen there. Nobody give fire back. Nothing. Like they froze,' he said of the slow response. "I don't understand why."'

He also said that the shooters were targeting everyone, 'Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone! It doesn't matter.'

Scuri also noted that the gunmen from the top of the bridge were freely reloading a rifle and handgun while continuing to fire at the crowd uninterrupted—firing round after round from a bridge overlooking the family-friendly Chanukah by the Sea 2025 event.

Furthermore, the photos show three female officers fleeing or hiding from the scene instead of engaging the shooters.

Civilian Intervention

The gunfire only ceased after Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim fruit seller, disarmed one of the shooters, after which police returned fire.

Officials said one suspected gunman was killed at the scene, while the other was taken into custody in critical condition.

Furthermore, improvised explosive devices were recovered from the deceased gunman's vehicle at Bondi Beach.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has expressed his sentiments on the shooting rampage—he condemned it. He called it an 'evil' attack targeting the local Jewish community during the holidays.

He said, 'This cowardly act of terrified violence is shocking and painful to see and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney.'

'What should've been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack,' Minns said.

Netizens Slam Police

Netizens have criticised the police for failing to protect civilians during critical moments, such as the Bondi Beach shooting, in which many people were killed or injured.

Many described the police as 'disgusting' and 'worthless' for appearing 'frozen' during the harrowing 20-minute attack.

One user wrote, 'So one unarmed man running a fruit stand was more courageous than three armed women.'

Another commented, 'Disgusting and shameful. There's no excuse for this!'

A third added, 'Disgusting!! How many lives could have been saved?'

Some went further, calling for accountability: 'Cowards should be charged,' said one, while another remarked, 'If confirmed true, these police should go to jail.'

Yet another echoed the sentiment, stating, 'They should all be fired immediately for dereliction of duty.'

The Bondi Beach shooting rampage is the deadliest shooting in Australia since April 1996, when 35 people were killed, and 23 others were wounded during a shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania.