Tag Archives: oceania

Riot police swarm beach after youths storm supermarket, throw items at officers

Riot police have swarmed a Melbourne beach after hundreds of unruly youths sent a nearby supermarket into lockdown then threw items at officers.

More than 20 officers in riot gear, along with 20 police cars, rushed to Mordialloc Beach in Melbourne's south-east this afternoon, where more than 200 young people were gathered.

Police were originally called to a nearby Woolworths store following reports of a brawl shortly after 3pm.

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Vision shows hundreds of young beachgoers storming the Woolworths store.Riot police were seen preparing to patrol the beach.

Footage filmed inside the store shows a large crowd of young beachgoers running through the supermarket, with spilled drinks and supermarket products strewn across the aisle.

Witnesses say the group smashed items, pulled stock from shelves and stole items.

The Woolworths store was placed into lockdown shortly after 4pm as a precaution.

"Our Mordialloc store was placed into lockdown in response to a large group entering and causing a disturbance," Woolworths said in a statement.

"We thank our store leaders for their diligent work prioritising the safety of our team members and customers.

"This is another example of why we've been advocating for additional measures to protect our frontline team members."

Nearly 20 police cars swarmed Mordialloc Pier this afternoon.

Police said the crowd then moved to Mordialloc Pier.

"Police are working to disperse the hostile crowd, who were throwing items at members," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

"Public Order Response Team members have been deployed to assist."

Footage from the beach shows a group stomping on a young man's head.

No emergency treatment was required, according to Ambulance Victoria.

No injuries were reported and no weapons were sighted, according to police.

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Emotional moment crowd sings ‘I am Australian’ at Bondi Beach vigil

A touching moment of unity has been captured at the memorial site at Bondi Beach, after a young man began singing The Seekers' 1995 hit "I am Australian".

As hundreds of people gathered to lay flowers and pay their respects to the 15 people killed in Sunday's terrorist attack, a young man began singing the all too familiar lyrics.

"I am, you are, we are Australian," he sang. 

READ MORE: Surviving accused Bondi gunman to face 59 charges

As he continued, more and more voices joined in until the diverse crowd of grieving Sydneysiders was singing along with him. 

A video of the moment shared on social media was accompanied by a caption saying there was "not a dry eye in the crowd".

Matthew replied to the video and identified himself as the young man who was singing.

He said it had been a tough few days for him since the terrorist attack and that he was quite nervous to sing, but wanted to do something that showed the Jewish community they deserve to be safe in Australia.

"But it was wonderful to see everyone so kind and so supportive," he said.

READ MORE: Furious ex-treasurer unleashes at PM over Bondi terror attack

"I wanted to do just something small to show that we as a city, and as a person with a disability myself, that the disability community supports the Bondi Beach, and Australian Jewish community, and that they're welcome here, and deserve to be safe, just like everyone of all backgrounds and faith," he said.

Australia is mourning the nine-minute attack at the country's most popular beach, which left 15 people, more than 40 injured and countless lives changed forever.

A pile of flowers, candles and messages are growing at the memorial site outside Bondi Pavillon.

The families of the victims and political figures like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have attended to pay tribute.

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Furious ex-treasurer unleashes at PM over Bondi terror attack

A furious Josh Frydenberg has directed a blistering critique at Anthony Albanese over the government's handling of antisemitism in the lead-up to the Bondi Beach shooting, while calling for a royal commission into the terror attack.

The former Liberal treasurer, who is Jewish, gave a fiery speech at Bondi this afternoon calling for greater action from governments in the wake of the shooting, which killed 15 innocent people.

"This massacre at Bondi is the greatest stain on this nation," Frydenberg said.

READ MORE: 'Miraculous' survival for officer injured in Bondi Beach attack

Former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has demanded Anthony Albanese take responsibility for the Bondi terror attacks.

"I'm here to mourn, but I am also here to warn: unless our governments, federal and state, take urgent, unprecedented and strong action, as night follows day, we will be back grieving the loss of innocent life in another terrorist attack in our country."

Frydenberg also went as far as to single out the prime minister for having failed Jewish Australians.

"Our prime minister, our government, has allowed Australia to be radicalised on his watch," he said.

READ MORE: Australia just witnessed its first mass shooting play out on social media

"It is time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of the 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old child. 

"It is time our prime minister accepted accountability for what has happened here. And it's time our leaders stood up and led at last. This is a time for accountability and action."

Albanese has faced significant criticism since the attack over the government's response to antisemitism, but Frydenberg's remarks have escalated the debate.

Former prime minister John Howard – who, like Frydenberg, hails from the Liberal Party – has also criticised Albanese but said only the shooters are responsible for their actions.

READ MORE: Father identified as 13th Bondi victim

Rabbi Motti Feldman, lower left, speaks at a menorah lighting ceremony at a floral memorial for victims of Sunday's shooting, at the Bondi Pavilion.

"Clearly the people to blame for the murders are the murderers… (Albanese's) greatest failure is not to provide the moral leadership that a prime minister can in denouncing antisemitism," he said yesterday.

In response to Frydenberg's comments, Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the government's response, saying it has denounced antisemitism and took action against rising levels of hate, but conceded more now needs to be done.

"The Jewish Australian community is mourning and so too is the whole of the country," she told the ABC. 

"This is a time that we need to come together because this attack was inspired by an ideology that is seeking to divide us; a radical, extreme view which seeks to divide our country."

Frydenberg also said a royal commission into the attack and the rise of antisemitism needed to be called immediately.

READ MORE: The five questions Australia is asking after the Bondi terror attack

Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong during a Senate estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 4 December 2025.

"We here deserve answers," Frydenberg said. 

"We don't need pious words of comfort, we need answers."

That was one of eight suggestions to act against antisemitism the former treasurer gave the government.

They also included investing in education, and banning "hate preachers" and "extremist organisations", pointing in particular to Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the radical Islamist organisation that was banned in the United Kingdom last year and in Germany in 2003.

He also called for the government to fully implement the recommendations made in July by Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism appointed by Albanese.

READ MORE: These are the five questions Australia is asking after the Bondi terror attack

The government hasn't formally responded to that report – which itself has been criticised, with one human rights expert saying it had "biased arguments, weak evidence and recommendation overreach" – but has adopted some of the recommendations.

"We have taken action that she recommended, such as criminalising hate speech, and symbols including the Nazi salute," Wong said. 

"We've taken action, including my expulsion of the Iranian ambassador, when it was clear that Iran had connections to the attack on a synagogue here in Australia. 

"But we all know more needs to be done and we have to work together – our government, all levels of government, faith leaders, community leaders – to eradicate antisemitism, this hatred, from any part of the Australian community."

READ MORE: Beloved bakery forced to shutter after 'ceaseless antisemitic harassment'

Frydenberg's successor, current Treasurer Jim Chalmers, announced an extra $104 million in the federal budget for extra security at Jewish events and crisis support services.

He said the government would consider Frydenberg's suggestions.

"I have a lot of respect for Josh Frydenberg… I don't doubt the intensity or the sincerity of his views," Chalmers said. 

"And we take them seriously. He, like a lot of Australians, is mourning and is grieving. 

"And we will take suggestions from him or from other members of the community very seriously."

If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi, there is support available.

To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.

If you wish to donate blood, you can find your nearest donor centre here.

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