Rome, Dec 15, (dpa/GNA) – Pope Leo XIV has condemned the terrorist attack on a Jewish festival in the Australian city of Sydney, which left at least 15 people dead, and the “anti-Semitic violence” behind it.
During an audience at the Vatican, the head of the Catholic Church said: “Enough of these forms of anti-Semitic violence! We must eliminate hatred from our hearts.”
The pontiff said he would pray for all those suffering from war and violence, and “in particular today I want to entrust to the Lord the victims of the terrorist attack in Sydney against the Jewish community.”
Investigators have identified the two attackers of the Hanukkah festival, the Jewish festival of lights, at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach as father and son.
The 50-year-old father was shot dead by emergency services at the scene. The 24-year-old son was arrested and is in hospital with serious injuries. The motive of the two men is still unclear.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, Australia’s domestic intelligence agency had investigated the son six years ago over alleged links to a Sydney-based cell of the Islamic State group. Police declined to confirm media reports that two Islamic State flags were found in the attackers’ vehicle, citing the ongoing investigation.
GNA