Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is simultaneously giving a news briefing.

He calls the Bondi Beach shooting a targeted attack on Australians on a day which should be a “day of joy”.

“An act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation,” he adds.

Albanese says there’s no place for this “vile act of violence and hate”.

We’ll bring you more from his statement soon.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says he has spoken to the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who offered all his support to the state.

“This is a terrible night for Sydney,” Minns says, and calls for unity.

He adds that there will be a full inquiry into the incident.

Anthony Albanese is also speaking now – we’ll bring you his lines shortly.

Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

Premier Chris Minns pays tribute to the man who was filmed wrestling with one of the attackers, taking their gun and forcing their retreat.

“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”

Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

Mass shootings like this are very rare in Australia, the premier points out.

“It’s all the more shocking because of that,” Chris Minns says.

“if there’s changes that need to be made, we will do that immediately.”

Commissioner Lanyon says one of the suspects has “very, very little knowledge to the police so he’s not someone we would’ve been looking at, at this time”.

He emphasises that: “We are aware of the person, that does not mean there was any specific threat posed by that person”.

He adds that the condition of the two injured police officers is “serious, verging on critical” and both are in surgery.

Commissioner Lanyon is now asked about the weapons used.

He says it is “way too early” to give any description of the firearms, other than to say they were long arms.

It is not yet possible to say where the firearms came from and how they came into the attackers’ possession, he adds.

Lanyon says police located a vehicle in Campbell Parade in Bondi, which they believe has “several improvised explosive devices”.

Lanyon says a rescue bomb disposal unit is there at the moment working on the vehicle.

As we just reported, Lanyon says that the explosive device in the car is “linked to the deceased offender”.

Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

We’re hearing more from the NSW Police Commissioner on why the incident has been declared a terror attack.

“The fact that it is the first day of Hannukah, the types of weapons… some of the other items we found at the scene – as I said, we have found the improvised explosive device in a car which is linked to the deceased offender,” Commissioner Lanyon says.

Responding to questions from reporters, Lanyon says he is “well aware” that there is a name circulating as the supposed identity for one of the gunmen on social media, but he asks for calm.

“This is not a time for retribution, this is a time to allow the police to do their duty”, he adds.

He is asked whether there is still an active threat – he doesn’t respond directly but repeats that the police are aware of two offenders and are investigating “thoroughly” the possibility of a third gunman or any other people linked to the shooting.

Commissioner Lanyon says he cannot confirm age ranges of victims, but that he does believe a child was transported to hospital.

Lanyon says “this is a really fluid situation”, reflecting the fact that the toll could rise.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says there will be a “significant investigation” led by counter-terrorism. “No stone will be left unturned,” he adds.

He says that the second offender behind the attack is in “a serious condition in hospital”. We previously heard that the other attacker is deceased.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says police received a number of reports at about 18:47 local time of shots fired at Archer Park, a grassy area at Bondi Beach.

He confirms that at least 12 people have died and 29 others have been transported to various hospitals – including two police officers who are in serious condition.

Commissioner Lanyon said he’s not willing to release information about the shooters this early in the investigation.

He says detectives are investigating if a third gunman was involved.

“I want to make sure no stone is left unturned,” he says.

Premier Chris Minns confirms that of the 12 individuals killed in the attack, one “offender” has also been killed and another is in custody.

He says the attack was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community”.

What should have been a “night of peace and joy” was “shattered” by a “horrifying, evil attack”, he adds.

There were well over 1,000 people in attendance tonight, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hannukah.

Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

The death toll has risen to 12, the NSW premier Chris Minns has just confirmed.

The incident has been designated as a terrorist attack by police.

New South Wales Police are now giving an update on the Bondi Beach shooting – we’ll be bringing you the latest lines on this page, and you can watch live above.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns begins the conference by saying it’s been a “distressing night” in Sydney.

He confirms that two individuals fired towards a crowd – including families – on Bondi Beach.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has now responded to the incident in Bondi, describing it as a “very cruel attack on Jews”.

We understand an event to mark the first day of the Jewish celebration Hanukkah was taking place on Bondi Beach at the time. It is unclear what the motive of the attackers was.

“Our sisters and brothers in Sydney have been attacked byvile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the firstcandle of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach,” Herzog says.

Warning: this video contains distressing content

Video footage appears to show two alleged gunmen, both dressed in black, shooting towards Bondi Beach from a bridge.

Several shots can be heard, with police sirens in the background.

New South Wales police will be giving an update on the shooting shortly – we’ll bring you all of the key information from their press conference on this page, stick with us.

Tessa Wong
Reporting from Bondi Beach

The shooting took place in a lively and crowded area of the northern part of Bondi Beach.

The Hanukkah event was held on a grassy area behind the beach, by a footbridge which people could use to cross over to the beach – and which the shooters had apparently used as a vantage point.

Just an hour before the shooting, I had crossed that bridge and saw the event in full swing – a crowd of at least 200, loud music, activity stations including a climbing wall.

There was a metal barrier set up all around the event, and people had to go in and out through a gate with what looked like bag checks, but there appeared to be minimal security overall.

Video shows man wrestling gun from Bondi beach attackerpublished at 10:36 GMT

By Benedict Garman

An extraordinary verified video appears to show a man tackling one of the gunmen, taking his gun and turning it back on him, forcing him to retreat.

The attacker is standing beneath a palm tree less than 50m (164 feet) from the small pedestrian bridge where we previously verified videos of two attackers firing guns, and where at least one of the gunmen died after a shootout with police.

He is aiming and shooting in the opposite direction and doesn’t notice the man hiding behind a parked car.

The man leaps out and grapples with the gunman from behind, before wrestling the weapon off him. The gun goes off again as they struggle. He then pushes the attacker to the ground and turns the gun back on him. The attacker retreats.

The member of the public then puts the gun down and raises his hands – appearing to show police he is not one of the shooters.

Nearby on the bridge, another gunman continues firing. It’s unclear who or what he is aiming at.

As the video continues, a pedestrian appears to be injured and flees the scene, and a policeman arrives behind the attackers and begins to fire at them.