As per reports, following are the updates regarding the terror attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney as of Wednesday (17 December):

• Australian authorities and media updates indicate that the response to the Bondi Beach terror attack has transitioned from the emergency phase into a period of mourning and intensified counter-terrorism investigation as of Wednesday (17 December).
• Health authorities continued to report 15–16 fatalities, including one of the attackers, and more than 40 injured, with approximately 22 patients remaining hospitalized across Sydney as of mid-week. Several of the injured were reported to remain in critical condition. NSW Health officials and political leaders continued hospital visits as part of the ongoing medical oversight and victim support efforts.
• The first funerals for victims of the attack, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger of Chabad Bondi, were scheduled and conducted on Wednesday (17 December), with mourners gathering across Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Media coverage highlighted that victims ranged from children to elderly worshippers, with significant emotional impact reported within Sydney’s Jewish community. Vigils and memorial gatherings continued at Bondi Beach and nearby locations, with large but orderly crowds bringing flowers and candles.
• Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police publicly confirmed that the incident was being treated as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State ideology. Authorities cited the recovery of IS-style flags from a vehicle linked to the attackers and indications of extremist ideological material. Officials described the attack as antisemitic in nature, targeting a Hanukkah event attended by more than 1,000 people.
• Investigations continued to identify the suspects as a father-and-son pair, with the father shot dead by police at the scene and the son remaining hospitalized under police guard. Counter-terrorism teams were examining seized weapons, improvised explosive devices, vehicles, and digital materials. Authorities were also reviewing a recent pre-attack trip to the Philippines undertaken by the suspects to assess potential extremist links. Officials stated there was no evidence of additional attackers, with the working assessment remaining a self-contained cell.
• Security remained elevated across Bondi and at Jewish sites, including synagogues and schools, with police maintaining a highly visible presence. Internationally, law-enforcement agencies in several major cities increased patrols around Jewish institutions as a precautionary response to the attack, though no specific plots were identified.
• Waverley Council confirmed that Bondi Beach and the Bondi Pavilion remain closed until further notice due to the ongoing crime scene and forensic investigation, and the public has been advised to avoid the area. Nearby beaches such as Bronte and Tamarama remained open under normal conditions, subject to standard surf-safety guidance. There were no reports of major transport shutdowns, riots, or violent civil disturbances linked to the incident during this period.