External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong after a deadly terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where more than 15 people were killed during a gathering to mark the first day of Hanukkah. Jaishankar expressed India’s deep condolences to the victims’ families and offered full support to Australia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also strongly condemned the attack, calling it a ghastly act of terrorism and expressing solidarity with the Australian people and the Jewish community.
Australian authorities said the attack targeted Jewish Australians and was carried out by a father and son. The father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the son was hospitalized. One of the victims was reportedly a Holocaust survivor who died while protecting his wife. Following the incident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to tighten gun laws and assured the Jewish community of the nation’s support. In response to the attack, several countries, including the United States, increased security at Hanukkah events and places of worship as a precaution.
