Another Shooting in Australia Just Over a Month After Sydney Jewish Attack... 3 Dead

As nationwide memorial events were held in Australia to honor the victims of the Sydney shooting attack, another shooting incident occurred, resulting in three deaths.

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On January 22 (local time), Australian police announced that a shooting had taken place in the village of Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales (NSW), in southeastern Australia, leaving three people dead-two women and one man. Another man who was seriously injured was transported to the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

According to local media outlet The Sydney Morning Herald, the shooter, armed with a rifle, was hiding in the village, and the incident is believed to be related to domestic violence.

Police deployed heavily armed units to the area to search for the suspect, who fled the scene. They also posted on social media, stating, "A police operation is currently underway in Lake Cargelligo," and urged citizens to avoid the area and local residents to remain indoors.

With this fatal shooting occurring just over a month after the December 13 Sydney Jewish festival shooting attack, which left 15 people dead, concerns about gun crime are growing locally.

On January 20, the Australian House of Representatives and Senate passed a gun control law to strengthen regulations and crack down on hate crimes in response to the shooting attack. The law allows only Australian citizens to possess firearms, strengthens background checks by utilizing information from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and includes a government buyback and destruction program for hundreds of thousands of privately owned firearms.

Meanwhile, on this day, millions of Australians participated in memorial events for the victims of the Sydney shooting attack, holding a minute of silence and lighting candles in their windows and doorways at home. In addition, a memorial service was held at the Sydney Opera House with the participation of victims' families, under the theme "Light Will Win."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who attended the event wearing a Jewish kippah, said, "You came to celebrate a festival of light and freedom, but you were confronted with the violence of hate," adding, "I am truly sorry that we could not protect your loved ones from this evil."

The Albanese administration plans to establish a high-level commission of inquiry to investigate whether authorities took adequate measures to prevent the Sydney shooting attack and antisemitism.