Australia set to further tighten gun control laws

Australia is set to swiftly overhaul its already-tough national gun control laws in response to the shooting on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, New South Wales, which killed 15 people and wounded over 40 in what was the worst incident of gun violence in the country in nearly 30 years.

Addressing a news conference on Monday in Sydney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the shooting an act of "pure evil" and "terrorism", and said the day would be remembered as "a dark day in the nation's history". He ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across the country on Monday to mourn the victims.

Albanese later held a Cabinet meeting, during which officials agreed to strengthen gun control laws nationwide, and they commissioned police ministers and attorneys-general to develop options for reform. Following the meeting, the prime minister said that "strong, decisive and focused action" is needed immediately to reform the nation's gun control laws.

According to a media statement issued by the prime minister's office, the proposed reform measures include limiting the number of firearms held by any individual, restricting open-ended firearms licensing and the types of guns that are legal, and allowing for additional use of criminal intelligence to underpin firearms licensing that can be used in administrative licensing regimes.

As an immediate priority, the Australian government will commence work on potential further customs restrictions on firearms and other weapon imports, the statement added.

China sent a message of condolence on Monday to the Australian authorities, while several other countries condemned Sunday's attack on a Jewish gathering carried out by two gunmen.

The offenders have been identified by New South Wales police as a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. Their names and details were not officially disclosed.

The father-son duo targeted the event celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at a time when Bondi Beach was crowded with hundreds of people, including families with children. None of the dead or wounded victims has been formally named by the authorities. Local news reports said the ages of the victims ranged from 10 years to 87 years.

Police said they shot at the perpetrators during the incident, killing the father and injuring the son, who is currently in hospital. Six guns and three improvised explosive devices were seized from the crime scene and after searches were conducted at two residential premises.

In 2019, the son was investigated by the Australian Security Intelligence Agency for his suspected ties with a Sydney-based Islamic State terrorist cell, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.

Mass shootings have been rare in Australia since a lone gunman killed 35 people in the tourist town of Port Arthur, Tasmania, on April 28, 1996, which led to sweeping gun control reforms, including the establishment of the National Firearms Register.

On Monday, more than 300 police officers were deployed on the ground. "We will not tolerate the types of violence or the types of antisemitic behaviour that we have seen," said New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, adding that the operation will continue to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.

Prime Minister Albanese said: "We will do whatever is necessary to stamp out antisemitism. … We will dedicate every single resource that is required in responding to this."

Brave bystanders honored

Albanese also expressed his gratitude to the brave people at the scene. "To the brave first responders, including ordinary citizens who acted yesterday, thank you for what you do. People rushing toward danger to show the best of the Australian character," he said.

The Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney said that it is closely monitoring the developments, and that there were no reports of any Chinese nationals among the victims by early Monday morning.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing on Monday that Foreign Minister Wang Yi extended a message of condolence to Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong.

"China mourns for the victims and expresses sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured," Guo said.

The State of Palestine strongly condemned the attack, WAFA News Agency reported. In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the State of Palestine affirmed its firm position of rejecting all forms of extremism and terrorism, including the killing of civilians.

Apart from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among the leaders of the international community who condemned the attack.

"I am horrified and condemn today's heinous deadly attack on Jewish families gathered in Sydney to celebrate Hanukkah," Guterres said on Sunday.

During a Christmas celebration at the White House, United States President Donald Trump said: "That was a terrible attack. … And that was an antisemitic attack, obviously."

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were among leaders who prayed for the victims and condemned antisemitic attacks through social media or other platforms.

xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn