Bondi Beach. File photo.
Photo: David Gray / AFP
Two people are in police custody after reports of multiple shots at Bondi Beach.
But police said the operation is ongoing and they were continuing to urge people to avoid the area.
Police said earlier they were responding to a developing incident at Bondi Beach.
“Anyone at the scene should take shelter. Police are on scene and more information will be provided when it comes to hand.”
Emergency services have also arrived at the scene.
Video from the scene showed multiple people lying on the ground injured as paramedics worked on them.
People could be seen running away from the area, others had bandages on their heads, while other people were covered in blood.
Randwick resident and former journalist Elizabeth Mealey said she was having dinner in the Icebergs restaurant when they heard shots ring out.
“We thought it was fireworks, but it wasn’t it was something much worse,” she told the ABC.
“People started running right up the beach it was panic and the panic spread to Icebergs and people are standing around still not knowing what’s going on, so it’s scary.”
She said she could not see the shooter, but it sounded like it was coming from somewhere near to the Bondi Pavilion.
“It felt like it took a long time to hear a siren, we’ve got a helicopter coming in now and ambulance is arriving, it’s pandemonium and we really don’t know what’s happening.
She said she saw people running from north Bondi to the south end to get away from what they could hear.
“We did hear what sounded like another type of gunfire, eventually which we were hoping and assuming it was police shooting back.
“And after that went a bit quieter but still kept up but at this point, we are assuming it’s over, but no one really knows.
“It’s terrifying.”
– ABC News
– more to come