The co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, told Sky News the annual Hanukkah event was packed with families.

Ryvchin said if this is a targeted attack on Australia’s Jewish community, then it was “our worst fears realised”.

He said he was supposed to speak at events at Bondi Beach and Dover Heights and had done so in previous years but had a family event.

“This is the jewel in the crown of the communal calendar,” Ryvchin told Sky News.

“This is the end of the year. The first night of Hanukkah. Hundreds of people, families gather at Bondi Beach to light the hanukkah and bring in the holidays.

“There are petting zoos, face-painting and food stalls. It’s a family event. A beautiful event every year, and by some stroke of luck, I wasn’t there this year as I had a family bar mitzvah.

“My media adviser, he was there and he called me at the bar mitzvah and he showed me wounds; he was wounded.

“I got in the car and drove here to be with the community. I evaded some blockades to get to the beach.

“I’ve spoken to the police commissioner for more facts and they are still trying to ascertain what has happened. I’ve heard some horrific accounts, but I don’t want to lend credence to what could be speculation or rumour at this point.

“If this is what we think it is, then this is our worst fears realised.

“This is the Jewish community at its best, coming together to mark a happy occasion. If we were targeted deliberately in this way, then it is something of a scale that none of us could ever have fathomed. It’s a horrific thing.”