Less than half a minute is all it took for two alleged terrorists to kill 10 people during a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, shattering Australia's illusion of safety.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is investigating the horror alleged terror attack on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025.

Two alleged gunmen, one who survived and has been charged, allegedly opened fire on a crowd celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at a family event near the beach. In the attack 15 innocent people were tragically killed, the youngest just 10 years old.

Several representatives of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been called to give evidence at the ongoing inquest. 

Due to the pending court case and the national security information that will be discussed, public access to the hearings will be restricted over the next three weeks as critical evidence about the circumstances of the attack is given.

Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC on Monday shared some harrowing figures from the shooting.

Of the 15 innocent people killed, 10 lost their lives in the first 29 seconds of the attack, while another person was shot during that time but survived their injuries.

Mr Lancaster said four NSW Police officers were already at the scene when the shooting broke out, and the number of officers jumped to 11 within five minutes.

A total of three police officers were shot and injured. Both gunmen were shot within seven minutes.

Mr Lancaster said there was no evidence that intelligence or law enforcement agencies had any information about a potential attack at Bondi prior to the shooting.

He described the event as a 'surprise attack'. 

Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Stephen Nutt told the commission that while there were limited police at the event, AFP was aware of rising antisemitism.

Data from NSW Police recorded a steep increase in antisemitist incidents following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

There were a total of 40 reported hate crimes against Jews in 2020, which jumped to 841 in 2025.

There were 287 antisemitic incidents in the first quarter of 2026.

Assistant Commissioner Nutt said his officers feared the war between Israel and Palestine - which prompted widespread protests across Australia - would have a 'negative impact on the security environment' in Australia.

'And what we started to see was through protests and other activity, what has been described to me as the increase in the temperature in the community,' he said, the ABC reported.

'We saw increasing antisemitic chants. We saw gatherings where praising around the attack was occurring.

'We also saw an increasingly open display of prohibited hate symbols, specifically where we were concerned was around the symbols of prescribed terrorist organisations, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

'There was absolutely a concern that the antisemitism could escalate to actual terrorist acts.'

The inquest previously heard there were four NSW Police officers at the Chanukah by the Sea event and they'd been told they didn't need 'to stay the duration'.

Community Security Group NSW - a security organisation which monitors Jewish events - previously asked if NSW Police were at the same event in 2023 and 2024, which was left unanswered.

It was confirmed 12 CSG NSW volunteers attended the Chanukah by the Sea event in 2025.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker said the threat to the Jewish community was at a 'concerning level' before the Bondi attack. 

'Not only what was being reported but [also in] the community sentiment,' she said.

It was noted a threat assessment had not been done for the event by NSW Police.

The reports are typically reserved for larger events like New Year's Eve, Australia Day and Mardi Gras.

Assistant Commissioner McCusker said she could 'see no reason' why such assessments couldn't be complete for Hanukkah celebrations.

She did not confirm if one would be complete for this year's events.

The commission also heard from intelligence agency ASIO director-general Mike Burgess.

ASIO had raised its national terrorism threat level from 'possible' to 'probable' in August 2024.

The threat level remained at probable at the time of reporting.

An interim report by royal commissioner Virginia Bell found ASIO's counter-terrorism funding 'significantly declined' between 2020 and 2025.

Mr Burgess said the agency's counter-terrorism resources had remained adequately funded during that time, but that the bigger issue had been espionage and foreign interference.

'Every rock we lifted up, we found espionage or foreign interference that need to be inquired and investigated,' he said.

'And so resources were moved over there. Of course, again, I reiterate that at no time do I believe we had any serious inquiries that was left uninquired or investigated.

'So yes, we were pivoting resources across because that's where the leads took us and where we were required to put effort.'

While Mr Burgess was not asked direct questions about intelligence on the two gunmen, he did note that it was difficult to track people who do not publicly express extremist ideology.

'We can't be everywhere all at once. We're not all seeing and all-knowing and we don't aspire to be,' he said.

Mr Burgess will give further evidence at closed hearings.