Watch: 15 dead in Bondi Beach shooting targeting Jewish festival

Last updated 10pm

Fifteen people were killed when two shooters targeted a Jewish Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi beach on Sunday.

National broadcaster ABC reported that one of the shooters was among the dead and that 29 additional people were wounded, including two police officers.

New South Wales police said two men had opened fire.

"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 whom are police officers," NSW police said.

The figures were later updated.

Australia police reported later that they found an 'improvised explosive device' in a car linked to one of the shooters.  

"We heard the shots. It was shocking, it felt like 10 minutes of just bang, bang, bang. It seemed like a powerful weapon," Camilo Diaz, a 25-year-old student from Chile, told AFP at the scene.

Crowds fled in fear from the beach in eastern Sydney, which draws huge numbers of surfers, swimmers and tourists, especially at weekends.

Emergency services first responded to reports of shots being fired at 6:45pm (0745 GMT), New South Wales police said.

"A number of suspicious items located in the vicinity are being examined by specialist officers and an exclusion zone is in place," police said in a statement.

One witness who declined to be named said he personally witnessed six dead or injured bodies lying on the beach.

The grassy hill overlooking Bondi Beach was strewn with discarded items from people fleeing too fast to pack up, including an abandoned children's stroller, an AFP journalist at the scene said.

Paramedics tended to multiple people lying on the grass by the beach, images broadcast by public broadcaster ABC showed.

A weapon that appeared to be a pump action shot-gun was lying by a tree by the beach.

A British tourist told AFP he saw "two shooters in black" after the gunfire broke out.

"There was a shooting, two shooters in black with semi-automatic rifles," Timothy Brant-Coles told AFP, saying he saw multiple people who had been shot and wounded.

Another witness,  30-year-old local resident Harry Wilson, told the Sydney Morning Herald he saw "at least 10 people on the ground and blood everywhere".

'Shocking and distressing'

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a shooting Sunday at Sydney's Bondi beach was "shocking and distressing".

"Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected," Albanese said in a statement shared by his office.

"I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the (New South Wales) Police," he said.

"A cruel attack on Jews" - Israeli president

While details were still scarce, Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned Sunday's shooting, calling it a "cruel attack on Jews" and urged the Australian authorities to step up the fight against antisemitism.

"At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews," said Herzog in a speech at an event in Jerusalem, where he called on Australia to "fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society".

There has been no official confirmation in Australia that the attack targeted the Jewish community.

Australian imams condemn shooting

A major Australian Muslim organisation condemned a "horrific" shooting on Sunday that killed ten people on Sydney's Bondi Beach.

"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those who witnessed or were affected by this deeply traumatic attack," the Australian National Imams Council said in a statement.

"This is a moment for all Australians, including the Australian Muslim community, to stand together in unity, compassion, and solidarity," they added.