Thousands of revellers gathered at Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve 2025 for the city's iconic fireworks display, in a powerful act of public defiance following the devastating Bondi terror attack just weeks earlier.
Heightened Security for a City on Edge
The celebrations took place under a massive and highly visible police operation, with more than 2,500 officers deployed on patrol across the city. In a rare sight for Sydney, many officers were equipped with long-arm firearms, a direct response to the attack on 14 December that left 15 people dead and dozens injured during a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi's Archer Park.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns explicitly called on the public to attend the traditional festivities to "thumb our nose at the terrorists and their ideology." He stated that the best way to show defiance was to spend time with family and friends on Sydney Harbour. The premier acknowledged the altered security landscape, noting that the sight of armed police was a clear message that public safety was the absolute top priority.
A Solemn Tribute Amidst the Celebration
In a poignant moment of remembrance, the victims of the Bondi attack were honoured at 11pm with a minute's silence. Images of a Jewish menorah were projected onto the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a tribute decided after consultation with Jewish community representatives. Sydney's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, stated the city continued to listen to the community to ensure the acknowledgement was appropriate.
Premier Minns expressed concern that any significant reduction in the usual crowd numbers—typically over one million along the waterfront—would be seen as a victory by extremists. He assured the public that the state was not moving towards a permanent militarised police force, but that the high-visibility operation was necessary to reassure families and allow them to feel safe.
Police Presence and Public Response
"Given we've just had the worst terrorism event in Australia's history inside the last month, it would be self-evidently the case that things need to change and the security needs to change," Mr Minns explained. He anticipated broad public support for the robust police presence, believing it would make families feel far safer in the environment.
The alleged Bondi attacker, Naveed Akram, faces 59 charges, while his father, Sajid, was shot dead by police at the scene. As the final fireworks lit up the sky over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the event symbolised both the city's resilience and its collective mourning, marking the end of a profoundly challenging year for Sydney and the nation.
