SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Sixteen people have been killed in a violent attack involving two gunmen at Bondi Beach, Australia's most popular beach located just 15 minutes from the Sydney CBD.

42 people remain hospitalised in various Sydney hospitals, all suffering gunshot wounds. People are continuing to turn up at hospitals, a police statement said.

The number of dead and wounded was revised upwards on Monday morning. One of those who has since died was a 10-year old girl being treated at the Sydney Children's Hospital in the city's eastern suburbs. The new numbers were confirmed on Monday by New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park.

"This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community, but for Australians," Park told the Channel Nine network's Today show on Monday.

Two of those wounded are New South Wales police officers, both of whom are believed to be in critical condition. Four children are also among the wounded.

One of those killed was one of the two gunmen, while the other was wounded and is in custody.

Police believe the gunmen targeted a Jewish celebration for the first day of Hanukkah. Police say over 1,000 people were in attendance, mainly consisting of Jewish families.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon on Sunday night at 9:36 pm declared the attack a terrorist incident. "This disgraceful act will not go unpunished," he said.

Naveed Akram, 24, on Sunday night was confirmed to be one of the two gunmen. His family home in the south-western suburb of Bonnyrigg was the scene of a concerted police raid on Sunday night. On Monday, his father, Sajid Akram, 50, was named as the second shooter. It was also revealed he had a gun license and owned six firearms. The pair are understood to have rented an Airbnb in recent days in the Sydney suburb of Campsie. 

A bystander, meanwhile, is being credited for stopping one of the gunmen by tackling him and then disarming the man and pointing the rifle back at him. The man's intervention is being hailed in Australia as heroic. Footage of the incident has been circulating on social media. A screenshot of the imagery appears above. The man has been identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, a fruit shop proprietor.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a press conference Sunday night that Sunday's attack was "an evil act of antisemitism and terrorism." The PM said he had just come from a meeting of national law enforcement and counter terrorism agencies, including ASIO, the country's intelligence service, and the Australian Federal Police.

Further to the mass shooting, New South Wales Police are conducting a major search operation for an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The bomb disposal squad is on the scene. The search was initiated following the discovery of an IED which was linked to one of the gunmen. Bondi Beach and all roads leading to it were closed on Monday as police continue their search for evidence and conduct a forensic examination.

"We want to get to the bottom of this," Police Commissioner Lanyon said. "We want to understand the motives behind it. We certainly want to understand the actions that have happened."

"There are many people in the community for which the police have very little knowledge about and quite rightly so," Lanyon said.

An 87-year old Ukrainian man, Alex Kleytman, was among the dead, the man's wife Larisa confirmed in an interview with local media. Police were reluctant to speak of the victims or their circumstances as next-of-kin are still being informed.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog denounced the incident as a targeted assault on Jews.

"Our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah," Herzog said while speaking at an event at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.

Calling for action, he said, "We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government to seek action and fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as deeply distressing while extending solidarity to those affected.

"Deeply distressing news from Australia. The United Kingdom sends our thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the appalling attack in Bondi beach. I'm being kept updated on the developing situation," Starmer said in a post on X.

NSW Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Bondi Beach area around the time of the attack, and who has mobile phone or dashcam vision relevant to the shooting to upload it on this link. This can be done anonymously.