Australia’s history of terrorism features sporadic incidents rather than frequent large-scale attacks, with low casualty counts until the recent Bondi Beach shooting. The 2025 event marks the deadliest terror attack on home soil, surpassing prior bombings and sieges. This article ranks the top ten by fatalities, focusing on verified incidents involving organized groups or ideologically motivated individuals targeting civilians.
The Bondi Beach Shooting (2025)
On December 14, 2025, two gunmen—a father and son—opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration in Archer Park near Bondi Beach, Sydney, killing 15 civilians including a 10-year-old child and injuring 42 others. Authorities classified it as an antisemitic terrorist attack; one perpetrator died in a police shootout, the other was arrested after being wounded. A bystander heroically disarmed one attacker, and police neutralized homemade bombs found in their vehicle.
The suspects, aged 50 and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, were known to ASIO with ISIS links; they used licensed firearms from a gun club. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned it as a targeted assault on Jewish Australians during Hanukkah, prompting global outrage from leaders like US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier Major Incidents
The Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing on February 13, 1978, killed three—two garbage collectors and a police officer—when a bomb exploded outside the hotel during a Commonwealth summit, attributed to Croatian separatists and injuring 11 others.
The 2014 Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney saw Islamist gunman Man Haron Monis hold 18 hostages for 16 hours, resulting in two civilian deaths during a police raid; three hostages and a police officer were also wounded.
Other notable attacks include the 2018 Melbourne stabbing (1 dead, ISIS-inspired), 2017 Brighton siege (1 dead, claimed ISIS ties), and 2015 Parramatta shooting (1 dead).
Top Ten Ranked by Fatalities
Context and Impact
Pre-2025 attacks often involved fewer than five deaths, linked to separatists, Islamists, or extremists, with many plots foiled by authorities. The Bondi incident, second only to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre (not terror-related), has heightened security amid rising antisemitism post-2023 Gaza conflict.