Police officer shot in Bondi attack loses sight in one eye, as questions persist over security at Hanukah celebration

Following a terrorist attack at a Hanukah celebration in Bondi, a probationary police constable, Jack Hibbert, lost sight in one eye after being shot. The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Bondi Beach, where Hibbert was patrolling the event. Premier Chris Minns stated that around 20 NSW police officers were on duty in the Bondi area, with at least three patrolling the park. However, questions are being raised about the adequacy of security at the event, with former minister Josh Frydenberg and opposition leader Kellie Sloane expressing concerns about the number of officers present and calling for answers regarding police resourcing decisions. Another officer, Const Scott Dyson, was also injured in the attack.

Following a shooting at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where two gunmen killed 15 and injured dozens, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns defended the police response amid criticism that officers were too slow to disarm the attackers. Minns emphasized the bravery of the officers, noting that two were critically injured after being shot in the front while engaging the gunmen, who were armed with long-range rifles. Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that police presence was based on the threat level at the time and that one of the alleged gunmen had been known to security agencies since 2019. Authorities indicated that a different policing response might have been implemented had there been specific intelligence about a threat to the event. The NSW Police had established Operation Shelter after the October 7th Hamas attack to investigate antisemitic hate crimes, with regular patrols in high-risk areas like Bondi.