Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney as an “act of evil anti-Semitism,” pledging a decisive response to the attack. The incident, which occurred on the first day of Hanukkah, resulted in at least 12 fatalities and over two dozen injuries.

The attack was carried out by two gunmen who targeted the ‘Hanukkah by the Sea’ celebration. One of the alleged attackers was killed in a subsequent firefight with police, while the other was taken into custody in critical condition. Authorities are treating the shooting as a “terrorist incident.” Several “suspicious devices” believed to be improvised explosives were found in a car linked to the attackers near the beach.

Prime Minister Albanese denounced the attack, vowing to eradicate “hate, violence, and terrorism” in the nation. He described the incident as a “targeted attack on Jewish Australians” and “an act of evil anti-Semitism” that has struck at the heart of the country.

During the attack, a bystander, identified as a 43-year-old fruit shop owner and member of the local Muslim community, attempted to intervene. Videos suggest that he wrestled a firearm from one of the gunmen, but was shot at least twice while trying to flee. The bystander is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The attack resulted in the death of Eli Schlanger, the assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and one of the event’s organizers. Schlanger was a strong supporter of Israel and had traveled to the region to meet with Israeli troops. Several other Chabad emissaries were among the injured, according to a spokesperson for Chabad Israel.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many condemning the attack as a senseless act of violence. The Australian government has pledged to take decisive action to prevent such incidents in the future. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the motivations behind the attack and to bring those responsible to justice.