JERUSALEM/UNITED NATIONS/SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that his government will consider introducing stricter gun ownership laws in response to the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Albanese said at a press conference that he would discuss tougher gun laws at an emergency meeting with state and territory leaders scheduled for Monday afternoon.

He said that the federal government is prepared to take "whatever action is necessary" to prevent future similar attacks and identified limits on the number of guns that can be licensed by individuals and a review of firearm licenses over time as possible areas for reform.

"People's circumstances can change. People can be radicalized over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity," Albanese said.

Authorities in the state of New South Wales (NSW) previously confirmed that one of the two alleged shooters, a 50-year-old man who was fatally shot by police on Sunday night, held a firearms license and legally owned six guns.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said earlier on Monday that it is time for "a change" to the state's gun ownership laws.

16 people confirmed dead

Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Monday morning that 16 people have been confirmed dead after the shooting.

A police statement said that 14 people died at the scene and two others died in hospital.

The deceased range in age from 10 to 87 years old and includes one of the attackers.

Another 40 people were being treated in hospital for their injuries as of Monday morning, five of whom were in critical condition.

The shooting occurred at around 6:47 pm local time on Sunday when the two men opened fire on a crowd of at least 1,000 people who gathered at the beach for an event celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

Lanyon, who on Sunday night officially declared the shooting as a terrorist attack, said Monday that investigations into motives behind the attack are ongoing.

Albanese said that the attack was an act of "pure evil" and that Australia would do whatever is necessary to stamp out antisemitism.

"It is a scourge and we'll eradicate it together," he said.

It marks Australia's most deadly mass shooting since 35 people were killed at Port Arthur in the island state of Tasmania in 1996, which prompted fundamental changes to Australia's gun ownership laws.  

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Israel issued security warning

Israel issued a security warning on Sunday for its citizens abroad following a deadly shooting attack in Australia, urging them to avoid large gatherings.

In a statement, Israel's National Security Council urged Israelis overseas to "strictly adhere" to precautionary measures, including avoiding large gatherings that are not protected by security forces, such as events at synagogues.

The council also called on Israelis to "remain vigilant around Jewish and Israeli sites and report to security authorities if anything unusual is identified, such as a suspicious person or object."

It said that past experience showed there was a risk of copycat attacks inspired by such incidents, prompting heightened concern for Jewish and Israeli communities overseas.

UN condemns terror attack 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a celebration of Hanukkah in Sydney, Australia, his deputy spokesperson said Sunday.

The UN chief expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extends his wishes for a swift and full recovery to those injured, deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement.

The secretary-general stands in solidarity with the people and government of Australia during this difficult time and expresses his solidarity with the Jewish community in the country and worldwide as they gather to celebrate peace and light, the statement said.

The secretary-general unequivocally condemns antisemitism in all its forms and reiterates that attacks on religious communities and peaceful celebrations strike at the core values of tolerance, coexistence and human dignity, the statement said. 

Overwhelming police response 

Authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Monday pledged an overwhelming police response to Sunday night's fatal mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

NSW Police Force Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a press conference on Monday afternoon that it is a time for calm and that acts of retribution will not be tolerated following the attack.

"Retribution or acts against any part of any community will not be accepted. We will have a significant policing presence," he said.

Links to IS cell

One of the men allegedly responsible for the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday night was previously investigated over ties to a local Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell, local media reported on Monday.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), 24-year-old Naveed Akram was in 2019 examined by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) for his close ties to the Sydney-based IS cell.

The ABC reported that both Naveed Akram and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, had pledged allegiance to IS and that an IS flag was found in their vehicle at Bondi Beach following the shooting.

Albanese said that flags would fly at half-mast across Australia on Monday to mourn the shooting.

NSW's Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a press conference on Monday that 328 officers had been deployed to Sydney suburbs with significant Jewish populations.

Officers from NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police were conducting a major operation at Akram's residence in Sydney's southwest suburbs on Monday morning as well as at a short-term rental in the city's west where the two men were staying.

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Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal told ABC radio that government education in Australia has not been sufficient for people to understand how antisemitism "destroys" the Jewish community.

"It's been seeping into society for many years and we have not come out strongly enough against it," she said.

A report released by Segal in July found that antisemitism is ingrained and normalized in Australia and called for a comprehensive long-term response.

Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik said in a statement on Monday that there is no justification for the sickening violence or hatred and that the attackers had a clear purpose to spread fear, terror and division within communities.

Bystander praised as hero 

A man who tackled and disarmed one of the attackers during the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney on Sunday night has been praised as a hero who saved lives.

Video footage from the scene shared on social media showed the man, who has been identified by family members as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed from southern Sydney, approaching one of the two attackers from behind before tackling him and taking his gun.

The footage showed the disarmed attacker retreating towards the second shooter on a nearby pedestrian bridge while Ahmed placed the gun on the ground.

Ahmed's cousin, Mustafa, told Australia's Seven Network television on Monday that the 43-year-old father of two was subsequently shot twice and taken to hospital.

Mustafa said the family was awaiting an update from doctors on Ahmed's condition.

Chris Minns, the premier of the state of New South Wales (NSW), said at a press conference on Sunday night that Ahmed was a hero and there was "no doubt" that many people were alive because of his bravery.

Authorities have confirmed that 16 people have died following the shooting, including one of the alleged gunmen.

Police said that the two alleged shooters were a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son.

It marks Australia's most deadly mass shooting since 35 people were killed at Port Arthur in the island state of Tasmania in 1996.