Within 30 seconds of opening fire at Bondi beach on 14 December, two gunmen targeting Jewish Australians had shot 11 people, killing 10 of them, the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has heard.The second block of public hearings opened in Sydney on Monday morning, taking evidence about what was known about the two shooters.On the evening of 14 December, two gunmen, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, allegedly opened fire from a footbridge above Archer Park at Bondi beach, shooting at a beachside Hanukah celebration being held for the local Jewish community.Fifteen people were killed by the gunmen. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police; Naveed was shot and wounded and is in custody facing charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act that investigators allege may have been “inspired by” Islamic State.Counsel assisting, Richard Lancaster SC, told the commission the evidence will demonstrate a number of facts about the 14 December attack.The commission heard:
A Jewish organisation, the Community Security Group, asked NSW police to provide a static police presence at the Chanukah by the Sea event for the entirety of the celebration.
NSW police declined to provide a static police presence for the entire event, instead allocating a “mobile tasking, that is police officers were instructed to attend the event from time to time during the evening”.
