The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has commenced an investigation into a mass causality public place shooting that resulted in 16 people dying and 40 people being injured in Sydney's east yesterday evening.
About 6.40pm (Sunday 14 December 2025), emergency services were called to Bondi Beach, following reports of a public place shooting.
Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, surrounding commands and specialist police immediately responded and located two men using long arms to fire into crowds of people.
Multiple officers exchanged fire with the two men with two officers – a constable and probationary constable – suffering gunshot wounds.
During the incident one shooter – a 50-year-old man – was shot by police and died at the scene.
The other shooter – a 24-year-old man – suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
Both men are known to each other.
As a result of the incident 14 people died – including the 50-year-old shooter – at the scene and 42 people – including four children and the 24-year-old shooter – were taken to hospitals across Sydney
Police have since been told two other people – a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man – have since died in hospital.
Those who died are yet to be formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87.
Six people remain in critical conditions with 27 people remain in serious and stable conditions.
Both officers remain in serious but stable conditions.
A declaration by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM has deemed the incident terror related.
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation will be led by the NSW Police Force under Operation Arques.
The NSW JCTT comprises members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.
Following initial inquiries, JCTT detectives located and seized three firearms and two improvised explosive devices (IED) from the scene. They will all undergo forensic examination.
Detectives have attended two homes in Bonnyrigg and Campsie overnight as part of ongoing investigations.
During these searches, detectives located and seized a number of additional items including two additional firearms. All items seized will undergo forensic examination.
Following further inquiries, a sixth firearm and third IED were located at the Bondi crime scene today (Monday 15 December 2025). Both are undergoing forensic examinations.
A critical incident team from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad has commenced Strike Force Belen and will lead the investigation into the circumstances of the police involvement in the incident.
The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and oversighted by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC).
Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
