An Australian state police force has moved to establish a heavily armed rapid response team following a deadly Hanukkah celebration shooting in Sydney, a government inquiry heard on Wednesday. The attack, which occurred on December 14 at Bondi Beach, left 15 people dead and three police officers wounded, despite officers being armed only with handguns.
Firepower Imbalance Exposed
Testifying before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson detailed the significant disparity in firepower between the attackers and police. Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly used two shotguns and a hunting rifle against hundreds of attendees, while only four officers on scene carried Glock pistols with limited accuracy at range.
“On Dec. 14, our police officers were placed at significant risk being in a gunfight armed with 9 mm Glocks against long arms,” Hudson told the inquiry.
Armed Response Command
In response, the police force has developed a plan to create an Armed Response Command, equipped with semiautomatic rifles. This unit will be distinct from the two existing specialized paramilitary squads that have largely monopolized rifle access within the force. Hudson also revealed the revival of Operation Shelter, a priority-resourced operation targeting antisemitic crimes and retaliatory attacks against Muslim targets.
Within five minutes of the Akrams opening fire, 11 police officers arrived at the scene. Three of those officers were among the dozens wounded. Police shot the father dead and apprehended the wounded son less than eight minutes after the first shot, the inquiry heard on Monday.
Operation Shelter Revived
Operation Shelter was originally established after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel to address escalating community tensions. At its peak, 200 officers were assigned daily to ensure no street violence escalation in Sydney. However, by the time of the Bondi massacre, the operation existed “in name only,” Hudson said. It was quickly revived after the shooting and elevated to an “active policing resource” that will remain until the Armed Response Command is fully operational, expected within 18 months to two years.
