Australia set to pass tougher gun control laws in response to Bondi mass shooting

January 20, 2026 10:28 AM

Australia set to pass tougher gun control laws in response to Bondi mass shooting

Australia is poised to pass new laws to enable a national gun buyback and tighten background checks for gun licences in response to the country’s worst mass shooting in decades at a Jewish festival last month. The bill passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday by a vote of 96 to 45, despite being opposed by conservative lawmakers. It will now go to the Senate where it is expected to pass with the support of the Greens party. The December 14 attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people wa...

Homemade bombs thrown before Bondi mass shooting, but failed to detonate, police tell court

December 22, 2025 1:19 PM

Homemade bombs thrown before Bondi mass shooting, but failed to detonate, police tell court

Australian police say homemade pipe and tennis ball bombs were thrown at a crowd at Bondi Beach before a mass shooting but failed to detonate, according to court documents released on Monday. Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi on December 14. The attack has shocked the nation and sparked calls for tougher gun laws and heightened efforts to stop antisemitism. One of the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, who was shot dead b...