Security agencies across India have sounded a high alert in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other major metropolitan cities, warning of potential threats to Jewish establishments during the ongoing Hanukkah festival. The alert follows a deadly terrorist attack in Sydney, Australia, where gunmen opened fire during a Jewish religious gathering, killing at least 12 people and injuring 29 others, including police personnel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned what he termed a “ghastly terrorist attack” and expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives. Extending condolences on behalf of the people of India, the Prime Minister said the country stands in full solidarity with Australia during this time of sorrow.

Reiterating India’s firm stance against terrorism, Modi underlined that the nation follows a zero-tolerance policy and remains committed to the global fight against all forms of terrorism.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said:

“Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief. India has zero tolerance towards terrorism and supports the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism.”

According to eyewitness accounts, two gunmen opened fire at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where hundreds had gathered to mark the beginning of Hanukkah. Around 50 rounds were reportedly fired, triggering chaos and panic at the seaside venue.

In the aftermath of the attack, Indian security agencies have intensified protection at Jewish and Israeli-linked locations nationwide. “Based on specific intelligence inputs, security has been enhanced at sensitive places,” a senior police officer said, adding that alerts have been issued to police stations across the country. Anti-terror units have also been instructed to monitor suspicious activities and track individuals suspected of radicalisation or planning lone-wolf attacks.

The officer noted that India has remained on high vigil during sensitive periods in the past as well. He recalled the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, in which 13 people were killed, underscoring the continuing threat environment. “Alerts had already been issued in view of Hanukkah celebrations. Today, fresh alerts have been sounded across all metro cities,” he said.

Jewish establishments in India have been targeted by terrorists in the past, most notably during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Among the 12 coordinated strikes carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, the assault on Nariman House (Chabad House) claimed seven lives, including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka. The 26/11 attacks left 175 people dead and over 300 injured, and remain one of the darkest chapters in India’s fight against terrorism.

Threats to Israeli and Jewish interests have continued in the years since. In 2012, the wife of the Israeli military attaché was injured in a car bombing in New Delhi, which police linked to Iran. A low-intensity blast near the Israeli embassy in 2021 damaged vehicles, with Indian agencies identifying Iran’s IRGC Quds Force as responsible. In 2023, two men were arrested in Pune with explosives, drone equipment and photographs of Mumbai’s Chabad House, pointing to ongoing surveillance and attack planning.

Against this backdrop, security agencies remain on high alert, determined to prevent any attempt to target Jewish establishments or disrupt communal harmony during the festive period.