Bondi Beach shooting at Hanukkah event in Australia kills 15

• At least 15 people were killed when two gunmen opened fire on the Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, which authorities have called a terrorist attack.

• One of the gunmen was killed and the other was taken into custody.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the “heinous deadly attack” against Jewish families gathered in Sydney.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with the people of that country in their hour of grief.

What is Hanukkah?

• Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukah, is the Jewish festival of lights.  

• It celebrates the Jewish people regaining the freedom to practice their religion more than 2,000 years ago in a battle against Seleucid (Syrian-Greek) rule.

• Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabeen Revolt of the 2nd century BC. 

• Hanukkah is observed for eight days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar by lighting candles in windows or doorways on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. 

• The candles are lit in a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched menorah.