Major US Cities on Alert After Hanukkah Terrorist Attack in Australia

At least 11 people died in a shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia’s Bondi Beach.

Ducks swim on the Hudson River near Weehawken, N.J., past the New York City skyline on Jan. 19, 2024. Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

Police departments in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and other major cities said they are on high alert after a shooting in Australia’s Bondi Beach over the weekend that left numerous people dead.

Officials in Sydney said that at least 11 people were shot and killed in an attack on Sunday as hundreds gathered to celebrate Hanukkah. Authorities indicated that it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.

“We are closely monitoring the horrific attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during a Hanukkah celebration,” the New York Police Department (NYPD) said in a statement. “We are in touch with our Australian partners, and at this time, we see no nexus to NYC.”

The NYPD said that it is “deploying additional resources to public Hanukkah celebrations and synagogues out of an abundance of caution,” adding: “As always, if you see something, say something.”

On social media, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) wrote that more officers will be sent to Jewish schools, synagogues, and Hanukkah events in the city. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and will last until Dec. 23.

“While there is no known threat to Los Angeles at this time, the LAPD remains vigilant and committed to protecting our diverse communities. As part of this commitment, the LAPD will provide extra patrols at Jewish facilities, schools, synagogues, and at Hanukkah events throughout the city,” the LAPD statement said.

Officials in Miami released a similar statement on X, saying that the police department has “increased our uniformed presence at synagogues, schools, and other key locations citywide to help ensure the continued safety of our residents and visitors.”

“We continue to monitor intelligence channels and remain in close communication with leaders within the faith-based community,” the Miami Police Department said in a statement.

Authorities in New York’s Suffolk County, located near New York City, said in a post on X that extra officers are being deployed for Hanukkah-related events set to last until Dec. 22.

Multiple Canadian cities’ police departments said in posts on social media they would be increasing security at events following the Australia shooting.

On Sunday, two armed men opened fire at Australia’s Bondi Beach in an attack that targeted the Jewish community event, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a news conference.

“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” Minns said.

At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales, the state in which Sydney is located.

One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested and is in critical condition, authorities said. Police said officers were examining a number of suspicious items, including improvised explosive devices found in the car of one of the suspects.

The incident drew condemnation from the White House, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump during remarks on Sunday praised a bystander who was seen grabbing a gun from one of the alleged suspects.

In a post on X, Rubio wrote that the United States “strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration,” adding, “Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.”

The shooting in Australia came within hours of a mass shooting at Rhode Island’s Brown University that left multiple people dead and injured, as well as a terrorist attack in central Syria that officials said killed three American citizens, two of them U.S. Army soldiers and the third a civilian interpreter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.