Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere in Sydney cancelled after Bondi Beach terror attack

The Australian premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash has been cancelled following the Bondi Beach terror attack, which saw at least 16 people shot dead.

Two gunmen opened fire yesterday at around 6.45pm local time (7.45am in the UK) during a family Chanukah event on Bondi Beach organised by the local Chabad.

Originally set to take place tonight at IMAX Sydney, the premiere of the third Avatar film has been cancelled out of respect for the victims of the terror attack.

The premiere was set to have director James Cameron and star Sam Worthington in attendance.

A statement from organisers reads: ‘Out of deep respect for the victims of the Bondi shooting, the planned Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere event today in Sydney has been cancelled.

‘Our hearts are with the community, the victims, their families and loved ones.’

A press junket for the film that was scheduled to take place on Monday has also been cancelled.

More than 1,000 people were reported to be on the beach at the time of the shooting.

Family members Naveed Akram, 24, and Sajid Akram, 50, started shooting, with a total of 16 people confirmed dead, including one of the gunmen.

Among them was assistant Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was helping lead the Chanukah event.

So far, 40 people, including two police officers, have been taken to various local hospitals to be treated for injuries.

Where is Bondi Beach?

Bondi Beach is a crescent of sand that stretches about half a mile along Sydney’s east coast.

Bondi, pronounced ‘bon-dye’, was named after an Aboriginal word meaning ‘sound of the waves breaking on the beach’.

Regarded as an iconic symbol of the Australian beach lifestyle, it has long been one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations – 880,000 domestic visitors swung by every day in 2022.

Known for its blue waters, the beach is popular with surfers and home to one of the world’s oldest surf lifesaving clubs.

Bondi has been the setting of countless films, TV shows and music videos, including Modern Family.

Bystander Ahmed al Ahmed, who bravely tackled one of the gunmen during the attack to disarm them, is among those taken to the hospital.

Police also discovered several ‘improvised’ explosives were found in a car relating to one of the gunmen, which are being attended to by a bomb disposal unit.

Mal Lanyon, the police commissioner for New South Wales, declared the attack a terrorist incident and authorised special powers for an investigation into a possible third offender.

He said at the time: ‘Archer Park is a grassed area just north of the Bondi pavilion. Police responded promptly.

‘Unfortunately, at least 12 people are deceased at this time, 29 people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers.

‘The condition of those officers and the other transported are serious, but there is a range of conditions.

‘Our thoughts, prayers and love go to all the families and all of those that were involved tonight, we know that there were many people there to celebrate a happy occasion, the celebration of Hannukah.

‘And there was well over 1,000 people there when this took place. As a result of the circumstances of the incident tonight I declared this to be a terrorist incident.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.