Two men were arrested on Shabbos after pointing an imitation firearm at people outside a Chabad shul in Sydney, Australia, not far from Bondi Beach, where a deadly antisemitic attack took place at a Chanukah event this year.

The frightening incident occurred at around 12:10 p.m. outside a Chabad shul in Sydney’s Double Bay neighborhood, where mispalelim had gathered following Shabbos davening.

According to Australian media reports, police responded quickly and located the suspects’ vehicle a short time later. Officers recovered what initially appeared to be a handgun, though forensic examination later determined that it was a water gun.

The two suspects, ages 22 and 25, were arrested and charged with multiple offenses. Police also interviewed members of the shul who witnessed the incident.

In a message to the community after Shabbos, Rabbi Yanky Berger said the suspects were “French nationals working as Uber Eats drivers” and confirmed that they had been charged.

He added that the fake firearm had been pointed toward a security guard from the local Community Security Group (CSG).

“I want to reassure everyone that our CSG security team and NSW Police responded quickly and professionally. There is no ongoing threat, and we will keep the community informed should there be any further updates,” Rabbi Berger wrote.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns for Australia’s Jewish community, particularly in the Bondi area, where a deadly antisemitic attack at a Chanukah event in December left 15 people dead.