Britain’s political leaders today condemned the ‘heart-breaking’, ‘horrendous’, and ‘distressing’ shooting in Bondi Beach as Sydney police confirmed 10 people are dead.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said there were ‘heart-breaking scenes’ emerging from the Australian city on Sunday of ‘what looks like another despicable terrorist atrocity’.
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said the shooting was ‘horrendous’ as he warned ‘the threat is everywhere’.
Sir Keir Starmer posted on X that he was being kept updated about the ‘appalling attack’ on Sunday, following the ‘deeply distressing’ news from Australia.
But the Prime Minister also faced calls to delete an earlier social media post, in which he expressed his wish that Chanukah would bring ‘hope, peace and comfort’ to Jewish communities.
That tweet from Sir Keir’s official account, posted just before 9am, came shortly after news had broken of the shooting on Bondi Beach, where a Jewish holiday celebration was taking place.
In response to his post, other X users urged the PM to ‘check the news’ and ‘turn the TV on’, with one commenting: ‘This is the problem with scheduling tweets.’
Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly, added: ‘For goodness sake take this down!’
Armed police are pictured at the scene after a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. Officials confirmed that one of the 10 people dead was believed to be one of the attackers
Sir Keir Starmer posted on X about the ‘appalling attack’. But the PM also faced calls to delete an earlier social media post wishing Jewish people a ‘peaceful’ Chanukah
At 8.59am on Sunday, as Jewish people in Britain prepared to celebrate the eight-day festival, Sir Keir had posted: ‘As Jewish communities come together to celebrate Chanukah, I send my warmest wishes to families across the UK and around the world.
‘May the Festival of Lights bring hope, peace and comfort. Chanukah Sameach.’
The PM followed this up less than an hour later, at 9.58am, with another post in which he said: ‘Deeply distressing news from Australia.
‘The United Kingdom sends our thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the appalling attack in Bondi beach. I’m being kept updated on the developing situation.’
New South Wales Police confirmed that one of the 10 people dead in the Bondi Beach incident was believed to be one of the attackers.
A second gunman was ‘critically injured’ with two police officers among the 11 other people injured, the force said.
A Chanukah event was being held at Bondi Beach at the time of the attack, with around 200 people reported to be in attendance.
TV presenter Piers Morgan was among those urging the PM to ‘check the news’
Police are pictured cordoning off an area at Bondi Beach after the shooting on Sunday
Mrs Badenoch posted on X: ‘Heartbreaking scenes emerging from Bondi Beach of what looks like another despicable terrorist atrocity.
‘As Jews across the UK gather to welcome Chanukah, we must once again remind ourselves of the enduring power of the story of the Maccabees, not only to Jewish history but to universal themes of resilience, courage, and hope.
‘We need them more than ever in the battle of light over darkness.’
Mr Farage posted: ‘The Hanukkah party shooting in Australia is horrendous. The threat is everywhere.’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wrote: ‘Horrified by the sickening terrorist attack in Bondi Beach. My prayers are with the families of those tragically killed.
‘As Jewish communities come together to celebrate Hanukkah, we must stand together against violence and hate. Light will always triumph over darkness.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, appearing on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, revealed she would speak with her Australian counterpart later in the day.
‘I’ve just seen the breaking news as I’ve arrived into the studio here this morning,’ she said.
‘I can fully understand the anxiety this might be causing people here at home about relatives over in Australia, but first and foremost, our thoughts must be with the victims of this attack in Australia and with with the Australian people as well.
‘We will obviously watch closely as details emerge of what exactly has happened, and I’ll be talking to my Australian counterpart later on today.’
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: ‘We are devastated to hear reports of a shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, with multiple fatalities at a Jewish Hanukkah event.
‘While details emerge, we have been in touch with our Australian partners at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to express our solidarity and offer our support.
‘We have also been in touch with the UK Government, who are monitoring the situation closely, to discuss the UK response.
‘The scourges of terrorism and antisemitism are shared, international challenges and need concerted and determined action to defeat them.’
