Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia “will not be divided by hate or violence” in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack, as Muslim leaders joined voices with Jewish communities to condemn the shooting and call for national unity.
The Australian National Imams Council said it stood “in solidarity with the Australian Jewish community, the victims, and their families, and with all those affected”, extending its “support and deepest sympathies to the Jewish community during this difficult time”.
“While this attack has targeted the Jewish community, it is in reality an attack on all of us, including the Muslim community,” the council said. “This violent terrorist act constitutes an attack on all Australians. Violence and terrorism have no place in our society, and targeting innocent people undermines the safety, dignity, and cohesion of our nation.”
ANIC said antisemitism expressed through hate, harassment and violence had no place in Australia, stating, “We unequivocally condemn all attacks on civilians. Antisemitism, expressed through hate, harassment, and violence directed at the Jewish community, has no place in our society. We unequivocally reject these acts and reaffirm our shared responsibility to uphold respect, safety, and dignity for all communities in Australia.”
The council also addressed broader concerns about extremism, saying it had “made it very clear that Islam and Muslims unequivocally condemn terrorism, violence, and the targeting of civilians in all its forms”.
“Islam clearly prohibits the killing of innocent people and the spreading of fear and harm,” the statement said. “Islam firmly rejects extremism and terrorism in all their forms, as they contradict its teachings and values.”
Muslim leaders said their communities understood the impact of such violence, noting that “Muslims have also been among the victims of extremism and terrorism, and we know firsthand the pain, harm, and division these acts cause”.
The statement urged Australians to show solidarity in practical ways. “We urge the community and representatives to reach out to their Jewish neighbours, friends, and colleagues to offer support and comfort during this difficult time,” it said.
“As the peak body representing Imams and the Muslim community in Australia, ANIC speaks with clarity and responsibility on this matter,” the statement added. “An attack on one community is an attack on us all. This is a time for true unity and solidarity with one another, guided by our shared moral values and our common responsibility to protect the safety and dignity of every Australian.”
“We will defy the division sought by those who seek to divide us,” the council said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed those sentiments, saying, “Australia will not be divided by hate or violence.”
“We will confront it head on. And we will stand together in solidarity with Jewish Australians and with one another,” he said.
The statements come as police continue to investigate the Bondi Beach attack, which authorities have described as the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre. Investigators have confirmed the victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, with 16 people dead. Police say the alleged gunmen were father and son and that the younger man, Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father opened fire on the crowd gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea festival, using multiple firearms. Authorities have also confirmed the elder man held a gun licence for more than a decade.
As the investigation continues, leaders across faiths and communities have stressed that the response to the attack must be unity rather than fear, and solidarity rather than division.
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