Summary
A terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, left 15 people dead and at least 49 injured during a Hanukkah celebration, with authorities attributing the act to antisemitic motives inspired by Islamic State. In response, the Australian Government established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell. The Commission’s interim report, released April 30, 2026, found no legal or regulatory gaps but identified significant failures in counter-terrorism prioritisation, inter-agency coordination, and firearms regulation. Fourteen recommendations were issued, nine of which are public and five classified. Both federal and NSW governments have accepted all recommendations, launching a $102 million security package, new hate crime legislation, and a national gun buyback scheme. The inquiry remains ongoing, with the final report due December 14, 2026.
Detailed Report
1. The 2025 Bondi Beach Attack
On December 14, 2025, two gunmen, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram, attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, Sydney. The attackers, armed with legally owned firearms and carrying improvised explosive devices, killed 15 people and wounded at least 49 others. The explosives failed to detonate. Sajid Akram was killed by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram was critically injured and later charged with multiple counts of murder and terrorism. Authorities confirmed the attack was motivated by antisemitism and inspired by Islamic State, with IS flags found in the attackers’ vehicle and the group claiming to have inspired the act. The incident was immediately declared a terrorist attack, prompting a large-scale law enforcement and emergency response, including the deployment of over 300 officers and the establishment of Operation Shelter.
2. Establishment and Mandate of the Royal Commission
Following public outcry and advocacy from community leaders, the Australian Government established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion on January 9, 2026. The Commission is led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell and was tasked with investigating the circumstances of the Bondi Beach attack, examining the prevalence and drivers of antisemitism, assessing the performance of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and recommending measures to strengthen social cohesion and counter violent extremism. The Commission was granted full powers under the Royal Commissions Act, including the authority to compel evidence and hold both public and closed hearings. All states and territories were invited to participate, ensuring national jurisdiction.
3. Inquiry Proceedings and Evidence
The Commission began its work in February 2026, issuing notices to produce documents and calling for public submissions. Over 3,500 submissions were received from survivors, community leaders, experts, and the public. The first round of public hearings commenced in Sydney in early May 2026, focusing on the events leading up to the attack, the adequacy of security arrangements, and the broader context of rising antisemitism. Sensitive matters, including intelligence assessments, were addressed in closed sessions to protect ongoing investigations and classified information.
4. Interim Report: Key Findings
The interim report, released April 30, 2026, concluded that there were no legal or regulatory gaps that prevented authorities from detecting or responding to the attack. However, the report identified several systemic failures:
· Counter-terrorism was deprioritised across intelligence and law enforcement agencies after 2019, with funding and resources declining despite escalating warnings of antisemitic violence.
· Coordination and information-sharing between federal and state agencies were inadequate, with outdated national counter-terrorism plans and insufficient integration of intelligence and policing efforts.
· NSW Police did not produce a written risk assessment for the Hanukkah event, despite explicit warnings from the Jewish Community Security Group and ASIO, and failed to provide a permanent police presence.
· The attackers used legally owned firearms, highlighting inconsistencies and weaknesses in firearms regulation across states.
5. Recommendations of the Royal Commission
The interim report issued 14 recommendations, nine of which are public and five classified for national security reasons. The public recommendations are:
· Extend the security procedures used for Jewish high holy days to all high-risk Jewish festivals and events, especially those with a public-facing element.
· Restore the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator role to a full-time position to strengthen central oversight and crisis response.
· Clarify the role of the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC) within the national crisis management framework.
· Update the Counter-Terrorism Handbook promptly and at least every three years, in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Plan and ANZCTC reviews.
· Require the ANZCTC to provide annual briefings to National Cabinet on activities, funding, and national counter-terrorism priorities.
· Commission a review of Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams, focusing on leadership, integration, and information sharing, with particular attention to the NSW team.
· Ensure National Security Committee ministers and National Cabinet members participate in counter-terrorism exercises within nine months of each federal election.
· Finalise and implement an updated, nationally consistent National Firearms Agreement.
· Implement a national gun buyback scheme to remove surplus, newly banned, and illegal firearms from circulation.
The five classified recommendations reportedly address agencies’ access to firearms data, sharing of criminal intelligence, and reforms to travel alert systems.
6. Government Response and Implementation
The federal government accepted all recommendations relevant to Commonwealth authorities and committed to their full implementation. Measures include restoring the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator to a full-time role, prioritising the national firearms agreement and gun buyback scheme, and increasing funding for security at Jewish sites. The NSW Government also accepted the recommendations, enacting new hate crime legislation, establishing permanent security operations for high-risk events, and introducing laws restricting public assemblies following terrorist incidents. A $102 million security package was allocated to enhance protection at synagogues, schools, and other Jewish institutions. Additional measures include a $14.2 million mental health support package for the Jewish community and the opening of a temporary Medicare Mental Health Centre in Bondi. The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 was introduced to strengthen hate crime provisions and expand powers to cancel or refuse visas for hate-motivated conduct.
7. Ongoing Inquiry and Current Status
The Royal Commission continues to hold hearings and gather evidence, with the final report due by December 14, 2026. The inquiry’s next phase will examine whether agencies adequately acted on ASIO’s assessments, whether counter-terrorism resourcing was sufficient, and whether the response to escalating antisemitic violence was adequate. The government has pledged to implement any further recommendations arising from the final report and to maintain close consultation with the Jewish community and other affected groups.
Conclusion
The Royal Commission into the 2025 Bondi Beach attack has exposed significant shortcomings in Australia’s counter-terrorism posture, inter-agency coordination, and firearms regulation. While no legal or regulatory gaps were found to have directly enabled the attack, the Commission’s interim report has prompted sweeping reforms at both federal and state levels. The inquiry remains ongoing, with further hearings and a final report expected to shape Australia’s approach to countering violent extremism and protecting vulnerable communities.