Casualties rise in Sydney Bondi Beach terrorist attack, no Chinese reported, gunmen identified

The number of casualties in the terrorist shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia's New South Wales state, on Sunday has risen to 16 confirmed dead and 42 others hospitalized.

Local police also identified the two gunmen as a father and son duo, with the father shot dead and the son currently in hospital.

The Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney said it had not received any reports of Chinese nationals being injured or killed, adding that it is closely monitoring developments.

The Sunday attack targeted the Jewish community gathering for an event, with the victims ranging in age from 10 to 87, NSW Premier Chris Minns said at a joint news conference on Monday.

"The offenders are a 50-year-old and 24-year-old male who are father and son. The 50-year-old is deceased. The 24-year-old is currently in hospital at the moment," NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The older gunman had a gun licence for 10 years, with all six guns in his possession accounted for, Lanyon said.

Police officers exchanged gunfire with the attackers, leaving two officers hospitalized in critical but stable condition, he said.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, which occurred on the first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, calling it "an act of pure evil".

"We will do whatever is necessary to stamp out anti-Semitism. It is a scourge and we will eradicate it together … We will dedicate every single resource that is required in responding to this," he said.

Albanese said flags will fly at half-mast across the country on Monday "as we pay our respects to all those lost and all those who have been injured".

Sunday's attack occurred nearly three decades after a mass shooting at Port Arthur, Australia's Tasmania state, where a gunman killed 35 people and injured many more. The shooting led to a crackdown on firearms in the country.

When questioned about further actions in response, Albanese said, "We will look at whatever is necessary, whatever comes out of this investigation. If there is any action required in terms of legislative response, we will certainly have it."