NSW Premier Chris Minns Stands Firm on Police Response to Bondi Attack

Tue Dec 16 2025 15:09:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of a tragic attack during a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, NSW Premier Chris Minns defends the police's actions as they face criticism over their response time and preparedness.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has vigorously defended the police's response to the recent gun attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed and dozens injured. Despite criticism regarding the police's effectiveness, Minns emphasized the bravery of the officers involved and disputed claims that they acted slowly. The attack has raised discussions about security measures for such public events, especially in light of increasing antisemitic incidents.

The New South Wales (NSW) premier has strongly rejected criticism of the police response to the attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, saying officers acted with bravery and integrity.

Some witnesses have suggested police were too slow to disarm the two gunmen, who killed 15 people and injured dozens at an event celebrating Hanukkah at Australia's best known beach.

There are two officers in critical care... at the moment, Chris Minns said after sustained questioning from reporters. They weren't shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front.

There have also been questions about whether adequate security was provided before the shooting took place.

They shoot, shoot, change magazine and just shoot, one witness, Shmulik Scuri, told reporters the day of the assault, adding he thought officers froze.

Asked about these criticisms, Minns said the rush to conclusions about the police operation was disrespectful.

They didn't take a backward step. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns. The offenders had long-range rifles, Minns said.

If there's any suggestion that NSW Police didn't live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected because it's not consistent with the facts.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon avoided questions about how many officers had been deployed to police the event in advance. He stated that police regularly patrol that area and that their presence is based on present threat levels.

Australia's security agency has indicated that the younger alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, had come to their attention in 2019 due to his associations, but there was no indication he was a risk of violence.

Had there been intelligence that there was a particular threat at that location, or to that event, we may have had a different policing response, Commissioner Lanyon commented.

NSW Police established Operation Shelter after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, to investigate antisemitic hate crimes. Regular patrols are conducted in high-risk locations, including Bondi, a significant area for the local Jewish population.

Police received reports of gunfire at a park in Bondi Beach at 18:47 (07:47 GMT) on Sunday. The gunmen carried out a shooting spree that lasted around ten minutes before police shot both men, killing one and critically injuring the other.

Dr. Vincent Hurley, a former police officer and educator, remarked that it is unrealistic to expect police to have a pre-defined response to every situation such as a mass shooting. He noted that initial responses were based on varied emergency calls, which would contribute to confusion.

Individual officers would face critical decisions, whether to assist the injured or to pursue the assailants, often without clear protocol for such situations, Dr. Hurley concluded, emphasizing the complexity of such chaotic incidents.