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.

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.

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

More to come