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Agence France-Presse

World leaders voiced horror and revulsion at Sunday’s mass shooting in which 15 people were killed and dozens injured at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the “shocking and distressing” attack, which Australian police are calling a “terrorist” incident, was “beyond comprehension”, after assailants fired on a gathering celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog condemned what he called a “very cruel attack on Jews” by “vile terrorists”.
In a speech in Jerusalem, he called on Australia to “fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society”.
US President Donald Trump branded it “a purely antisemitic attack”, during a Christmas celebration at the White House.
“Antisemitism has no place in this world,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said on social media.
“Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.”

King Charles, head of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, of which Australia is a member, in a social media post said he and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened” by the “most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people”.
“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.”
Britain’s Prince William, along with his wife Kate, also expressed their condolences to the victims and praised the bravery of the first responders on social media: “Our thoughts are with every Australian today following the terrible attack at Bondi Beach.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “sickening” and “deeply distressing”, and sent condolences to “everyone affected by the appalling attack”.
London’s Metropolitan police force said it had increased security at Jewish venues in response to the shooting.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on X he was “horrified” by the “heinous deadly attack”.
“My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide,” he said.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media post she was “shocked” by what she condemned as an “appalling act of violence”.
She added: “Europe stands with Australia and Jewish communities everywhere. We are united against violence, antisemitism and hatred.”
Terror and killing of human beings, wherever committed, is rejected and condemned
Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the shooting, saying it rejected “all forms of violence, terrorism and extremism, which contradict humanitarian values”.
In a statement it voiced its “full solidarity” with “friendly Australia”.
Israel’s arch-enemy Iran joined in the condemnations.
“Terror and killing of human beings, wherever committed, is rejected and condemned,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack and vowed that France would “fight relentlessly against antisemitic hatred”.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on social media she felt “profound grief” at the attack.
“By once again firmly condemning all forms of violence and antisemitism, Italy expresses its own condolences for the victims,” she added.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in a post on social media: “I am deeply shocked by the terrorist attack in Sydney – an act of hatred directed against all Jews worldwide on the first day of Hanukkah.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “horrified by the antisemitic terror attack” in a post on social media.
“Canada stands with the people of Australia and Jewish people everywhere in sorrow, and determination never to bow to terrorism, violence, hatred and intimidation,” he said.

Meanwhile, vigils were held in cities around the world, including London and Berlin, to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.
About 100 people gathered on Sunday night outside Australia House in central London at a vigil organised by Stop the Hate UK.
Wishing every attendee an “illuminated Hanukkah”, Yisroel Lew, a rabbi at Chabad of Bloomsbury and Marylebone, said: “Just a small amount of light, a small good deed, can drive away a long darkness and that has always been the Jewish response, that remains our response.
“After hearing what happened this morning, the first thought was: How can we get more light, how can we bring more light into the world, how can we have more Hanukkah events?
“Go to Hanukkah events, don’t be afraid and celebrate Hanukkah.”
He told attendees that Eli Schlanger, a British-born rabbi who was among those killed in the attack, was a childhood friend of his.
“He really was a picture of kindness, of warmth, of service, of helping others,” Rabbi Lew said.
Elsewhere, several hundred people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin on Sunday to celebrate the start of Hanukkah with the Chabad Jewish community, as they digested news of the Sydney attack.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his wife Elke Budenbender and the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber were also there.
Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, the chairman of the Chabad community in Berlin said: “We are all horrified, all in pain and all speechless after the terrible event that happened in Sydney, Australia. The community there just wanted to celebrate light over darkness.”
“They wanted to send a universal sign of togetherness, for positive cooperation, and that all people, whether Jews, Muslims, Christians or non-believers, are under one God.”
Steinmeier, Budenbender and Teichtal lit a torch, which was used to light the first flame on the Hanukkah candelabra in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after a revolt against the Greeks in 164 BC and the “miracle of light” of a candle burning for eight days.
During the eight days, another candle is lit on the Hanukkah candelabra every evening. The festival is accompanied by traditional dishes that are fried in oil.
Latkes, or potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, doughnuts filled with jam, are particularly popular. Sufganiyot were also distributed at the Brandenburg Gate
Additional reporting by Reuters, dpa


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World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach terror attack as vigils are held for victims

People hold a vigil outside the Australian High Commission in central London, Britain on Sunday following a terrorist attack on a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo: PA Wire / dpa

Candles burn following the Sunday attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia on Monday morning. Photo: Reuters

Forensic officers on Monday stand on the bridge where gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on Sunday. Photo: EPA

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, centre, and his wife Elke Buedenbender attend a vigil for the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack, in Berlin, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AP

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Reuters

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A member of Sydney’s Jewish community reacts as he stands near the site of a fatal shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Youngsters react as they leave the site of an attack by gunmen at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. Photo: AFP

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves a press conference about Sunday’s fatal shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Photo: EPA

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Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’


Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.


World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach terror attack as vigils are held for victims

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’