The Catholic bishops of Australia have called for prayer and unity following the armed attack that occurred this Sunday night in Bondi Beach, Sydney, during a Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, which left at least 16 people dead and about 40 injured, according to authorities.
The police described the incident as a terrorist attack, which occurred shortly after sunset during the event called Hanukkah by the Sea. Two armed men opened fire on the attendees; one of the alleged attackers died at the scene and another was arrested. Security forces are investigating the possible involvement of a third person.
Reaction of the Archbishop of Sydney
According to Aciprensa, the Archbishop of Sydney, Msgr. Anthony Fisher, expressed his spiritual closeness to the victims and asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary shortly after the facts became known.
“As we follow the terrible news of tonight’s shooting in Bondi Beach, let us pray for the dead and the injured,” Fisher declared in a statement. The archbishop also offered prayers for the people who were forced to flee to save their lives and for the emergency services that responded to the scene.
Statement from the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference
For his part, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, stated that the attack had “shaken Australians to the core” and condemned antisemitism, which he directly linked to the events.
Costelloe warned that prejudice and hatred pose a threat not only to the Jewish community, but to society as a whole, and urged that the reaction to the violence not generate new episodes of hatred.
Archbishop Costelloe concluded his message by urging Australians to reject hatred and violence and to renew their commitment to peace and coexistence in family, social, and community life.