At least 10 killed in mass shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach

At least 10 people have been killed after two gunmen carried out a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, sending a shockwave across Australia, officials said.

“A police operation is ongoing after a public place shooting by two men at Bondi Beach earlier today,” a statement from New South Wales police said on Sunday.

“Ten people have been confirmed dead, including a man believed to be one of the shooters. The second alleged shooter is in a critical condition. At this time, a further 11 people are reported to be injured, two of which are police officers,” it said.

A number of suspicious items located in the vicinity were also being examined by specialist officers, police said.

In a statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the scenes in Bondi “shocking and distressing”.

“Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected,” he said.

Albanese said he had spoken to the federal police commissioner and the New South Wales premier on the situation, and was in touch with them for further information.

Footage aired by Al Jazeera showed a bystander tackling one of the suspects and snatching his gun. The suspect then walks away.

In the same video, another armed man is seen on a bridge, some 50-100 metres (160-330 feet) away, shooting towards the bystander.

Camilo Diaz, a 25-year-old student from Chile, recounted hearing a long series of gunshots as the attack unfolded.

“It was shocking. It felt like 10 minutes of just bang, bang, bang,” he told the AFP news agency at the scene, adding: “It seemed like a powerful weapon.”

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that a Chanukah by the Sea event had begun at a playground near the northern end of the beach when the attack occurred.

The broadcaster spoke to a witness who described seeing two black-clad armed men standing on a bridge, shooting at crowds who had gathered for the event.

Meanwhile, speaking at an event in Jerusalem, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog condemned the “cruel” shooting attack, which he said targeted Hanukkah celebrations.