In a harrowing incident that unfolded on a bustling Sydney street, a lone gunman allegedly fired up to a hundred bullets, leaving twenty people wounded and one in serious condition. Authorities swiftly took a suspect into custody on Monday (October 6, 2025), confirming there are no known connections to terrorism or organized gang activity.
The chaotic scene began on Sunday evening in Sydney’s Inner West when police responded to reports of a gunman indiscriminately shooting at vehicles and officers.
Joe Azar, an office worker nearby, recounted the initial confusion, mistaking the gunshots for fireworks or stones hitting windows. He described the moment a car windshield exploded and a bus stop’s glass shattered, realizing with a “surreal feeling” that a shooting was underway. “It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldn’t comprehend what was going on,” he shared.
Intense Volley of Shots
According to New South Wales Police Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry, a staggering “anywhere between 50 and 100 shots” were discharged during the incident.
Responding rapidly, a significant police presence secured the area, leading to the apprehension of a 60-year-old man inside an apartment above a local business. Officers confiscated two rifles from the location. The arrested individual received hospital treatment for injuries sustained during his capture; as of now, no formal charges have been filed. Among the casualties, one man suffered a serious gunshot wound and sought medical attention independently. Additionally, nineteen others required treatment, with several hospitalized, for injuries from shrapnel and shattered glass.
A “Terrifying” Event with Unclear Motives
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon characterized the shooting as “serious and terrifying.” While the motive remains unknown, Commissioner Lanyon confirmed to local radio that investigators have found “no known links to terrorism activity or any gang activity.”
A witness named Tadgh described the shocking moment to the national broadcaster, recalling how he was watching rugby when the gunfire erupted. “It was very loud and ‘bang, bang, bang’ and flash-bangs and sparks and smoke and the whole works. It was something out of a movie, really,” he recounted, highlighting the dramatic and unexpected nature of the attack.
A comprehensive police investigation into the incident is currently underway. This event serves as a stark reminder of the challenges, though mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia.
The nation has maintained a strict ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons since 1996, a response to the tragic Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 35 lives. Despite these measures, Australia has seen other notable incidents, including the ongoing manhunt for alleged gunman Dezi Freeman, accused of killing two police officers in August, and a 2022 shooting near Wieambilla, Queensland, where six people, including two officers, lost their lives.