Overview
- New Year’s Eve events paused at 11 p.m. for a minute of silence as the Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit in white with a projected menorah honoring the 15 victims.
- Around 3,000 police, including officers carrying long‑arm weapons, were deployed across Sydney for the celebrations to reassure crowds and protect large gatherings.
- Australian Federal Police said the father‑and‑son gunmen were alleged to have acted alone, with no evidence so far of direction from a broader terrorist cell.
- Detectives continue to examine ISIS‑inspired material and the pair’s November trip to Davao in the southern Philippines as part of the ongoing counterterrorism probe.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his New Year message to praise national resilience and confirmed an independent review led by former ASIO chief Dennis Richards, as victims’ families press for a royal commission.