Jewish group warned NSW police terrorist attack ‘likely’ a week before Bondi Beach massacre

One week before the Bondi massacre the Jewish community told the NSW police that a terrorist attack was likely and requested armed police officers to protect the Chanukah by the Sea event, where 16 people died in a terrorist attack on December 14.

In the days before, a police inspector told a subordinate to “take a car crew or two with you and provide a HVP [high-visibility policing] presence. No need to stay the entire duration, but your presence will ensure the community feel safe.”

Three junior police officers and one supervisor were sent to a park overlooking Bondi Beach, where hundreds fled for their lives when gunmen opened fire on Jews celebrating the Festival of Lights, according to the first report from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

The 159-page document published today provides the first detailed account of how the police responded to requests from a Jewish organisation, the Community Security Group, for protection during one of the holiest days on the Jewish religious calendar.

On December 8, the organisation, which deploys guards to protect synagogues and Jewish schools, emailed a police taskforce set up to investigate a spate of anti-Jewish violence across the state with a warning that 13 upcoming events could be targets.

“A terrorist attack against the NSW Jewish Community is likely and there is a high level of antisemitic vilification,” said the email, which requested protection “for the entirety” of the events, including Chanukah by the Sea.

In a phone call a few days later, a police officer said they “could not provide static resources” for Chanukah by the Sea, but “Eastern Suburbs PAC [Police area command] would provide mobile patrols with taskings to check in and monitor the event”, according to the report.

‘Probable’ threat level

Witness accounts and video footage from the attack show some police officers were present and fought back with pistols, although were outgunned by the attackers, who had a shotgun and rifles.

One of the attackers was killed by a plainclothes police officer who reportedly ran from Bondi Beach Police Station to help.

A police spokesperson acknowledged the report but declined to comment further, citing the multiple investigations into the attack, including a criminal investigation into Naveed Akram, who has been charged with murder and terrorism, a coronial inquest and the royal commission, which must report its final findings by the attack’s first anniversary.

The report’s public version does not discuss whether the attack could have been prevented, although states there was an “unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents” as Chanukah approached and the national threat level was set at probable.

Up to 1000 people were expected to attend Chanukah by the Sea, which was organised by the orthodox Chabad-Lubavich movement popular with Jews who emigrated from the Soviet Union. While guards from the Community Security Group were present, they are only allowed to carry guns when protecting schools or synagogues.

The group’s emailed warning on December 8 went to an intelligence unit in Operation Shelter, which was set up after the Hamas-Israel triggered attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions around the world. It is unclear if Operation Shelter’s police officers advised if extra protection was warranted for the Bondi event, a question the royal commission said it would investigate.

‘Not our job’

In a letter to the inquiry, the police force said it was not its responsibility to provide security for the religious celebration at Australia’s most-famous beach.

“NSW Police stated that the event organiser was responsible for security for Chanukah by the Sea, and any police involvement was supplementary and focused on maintaining public order and community safety,” today’s report said.

“Although it is possible for community event organisers to request an increased or visible policing presence at an event on a user-pays basis, there has been no evidence provided that this User Charges Policy was invoked for, or even applied to, Chanukah by the Sea.”

The inquiry will not be able to interview the event’s organiser, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, or the man in charge of logistics, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, because both died in the attack.

Commissioner Virginia Bell submitted a copy of the report to Governor-General Sam Mostyn in Canberra this morning.