New Delhi, December 15 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday spoke with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong following the deadly terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which left more than 15 people dead during a gathering to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said he conveyed India’s deepest condolences over the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered the country’s fullest support to Australia.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack at Bondi Beach that targeted people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and solidarity with the Australian people.
In a post on X, Modi said he strongly condemned the ghastly terrorist attack carried out at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
The attack, which authorities have declared a terrorist incident, targeted Jewish Australians gathered for the Hanukkah celebration. According to CNN, one of the victims was a Holocaust survivor who was killed while shielding his wife from gunfire.
Australian authorities said the attack was carried out by a father and son. Police shot dead the 50-year-old father at the scene, while the 24-year-old son was taken to a hospital. Officials said the older man held a recreational hunting license. Police have also conducted raids at a home in Sydney in connection with the incident.
In the aftermath of the attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government would move to tighten gun-related regulations, adding that stricter rules, including time limits on licenses, would be placed on his Cabinet’s agenda.
Addressing the Jewish community, Albanese said fellow Australians stood with them in condemning the act of terror, adding that the country would never submit to division, violence, or hatred.
Following the Sydney attack, police agencies in several countries have increased security around public Hanukkah events. In the United States, the New York Police Department said it was deploying additional resources to public Hanukkah celebrations and synagogues out of an abundance of caution.
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