SYDNEY,— Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor famous for his role as paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in “Jurassic Park,” has died at age 78. His career spanned more than 50 films, Reuters reported.

Neill’s family said in a social media post that his death in Sydney “was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.”

In April, he had announced he was free of cancer after a long fight with a blood cancer diagnosis.

Critics often called Neill “versatile” and “reliably excellent.” He took on lead roles across many types of films, from a submarine officer in the 1990 thriller “The Hunt for Red October” to the antichrist in 1981’s “Omen III.”

He also played many troubled husbands on screen, including alongside Holly Hunter in the Oscar-winning film “The Piano” (1993) and alongside Meryl Streep in 1988’s “Evil Angels,” also released under the title “A Cry in the Dark.”

Neill was born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, a town in Northern Ireland. He moved to New Zealand at age seven after his father, a New Zealander, retired from the army and chose to return home.

At age 11, Neill changed his first name.

In his 2023 memoir, “Did I Ever Tell You This?” he wrote that landing in a primary school with “a plum in the voice and Nigel for a name was asking for trouble.”

He said the name Sam was “easy to say, sounds friendly, sounds a bit blokey and has a touch of Labrador about it.”

Neill described himself as a nerdy, unsporty boy with a stutter, but said school plays gave him his first taste of acting, including a small role as a bridesmaid in “The Pirates of Penzance.” He wrote that he liked making people laugh.

His breakout role came in the low-budget New Zealand film “Sleeping Dogs” (1977), which led to offers for bigger films in Australia.

Even as he became more famous, Neill kept returning to work in New Zealand. Many fans there loved his role as the grumpy Hector in the low-budget 2016 film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” directed by Taika Waititi.

In the mid-1980s, Neill tested for the role of James Bond but did not get the part. He later said his heart was not in the audition and that he felt uneasy during the process.

He once told an Australian morning show that no actor wants to be “the Bond that no one likes.”

Neill received three Golden Globe nominations and two Primetime Emmy nominations. He won three Australian television awards, most recently in 2025 for “The Twelve.”

In 2022, Neill accepted a knighthood recognizing his contribution to film, after turning down the honor for years. He said he accepted it to help ensure the arts received recognition.

He once said that when acting looks easy, it means the actor is doing something very difficult, very well.

Neill, who was married and divorced twice, spent much of his later life in Australia and at his vineyard in New Zealand’s Central Otago region.

He launched his Pinot Noir label, “Two Paddocks,” on his Central Otago land in 1997, calling the winemaking process both exciting and demanding.

He often shared photos of animals from his farm on social media, some named after celebrity friends, including a hen named Laura Dern and a bull named Graham Norton. He had recently spoken out against plans for a new mine in the area.

Neill is survived by two sons and two daughters.

(With files from Reuters)

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ROJ CAMP,— Syrian Kurdish authorities on Monday released 34 Australians, relatives of Islamic State group members, who had been held at the Roj camp in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), the camp director told the media.

The Australians were initially set to leave Syria for Australia but had to return to the Roj camp due to coordination issues with the Damascus government, a Kurdish official told AFP.

Mrs. Hakmiyeh Ibrahim, co-director of Roj camp, said the women and children, from 11 families, were handed over to relatives who traveled from Australia to collect them.

They were placed on small buses heading to Damascus under military escort in preparation for departure.

Reporters described women wearing full veils, sunglasses, and surgical masks, accompanied by children carrying luggage as they boarded the minibuses.

However, the convoy was forced to turn back due to what camp official Rashid Omar described as “poor coordination between their relatives and the Damascus government.”

Family representatives were working to resolve the situation with Syrian authorities.

Ibrahim, the camp director, noted that these Australians were the last held at Roj. The camp still houses 2,201 people of approximately 50 nationalities.

A spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs said Monday that the government is “not repatriating people from Syria.”

The spokesperson added that Australian security agencies continue to monitor the situation to prepare for any Australians seeking to return.

“Where Australians returning to Australia have allegedly breached Australian law, they will be, where appropriate, and on a case-by-case basis, subject to law enforcement action,” the statement said.

Kurdish forces continue to control the Roj camp in northeast Syria, which detains relatives of foreign jihadists.

The Kurds withdrew from the larger Al-Hol camp in January under pressure from Syrian government-aligned Islamist security forces, who then took control.

Since then, thousands of family members of foreign jihadists have left Al-Hol, reportedly smuggled to unknown locations. The camp had housed roughly 24,000 people, mostly Syrians, as well as Iraqis and more than 6,000 foreigners.

Repatriating relatives of IS members has been controversial in Australia. Some politicians have said these individuals may pose national security risks, while groups such as Human Rights Watch have praised the government for rescuing citizens from harsh conditions.

In 2023, Save the Children Australia filed a legal case seeking the return of 11 women and 20 children from Roj camp.

The U.S. military last week completed a transfer of 5,700 adult male Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq.

Ibrahim said Syrian Kurdish authorities had previously released other detainees through coordination with foreign governments.

Roj camp also holds British-born Shamima Begum, whose citizenship was revoked by the UK in 2019 over national security concerns.

“Shamima Begum’s situation is the same as that of all women in Roj camp. If her country wants her back, our doors are open,” Ibrahim said.

(With files from AFP | Reuters)

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SYDNEY,— Australian police said Tuesday that two Muslim men of Pakistani origin, who carried out a deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, had traveled to the Philippines weeks before the attack, as investigators continued to treat the incident as an act of terrorism inspired by Islamic State.

The assault, which took place Sunday at one of Sydney’s most popular beaches, left 15 people dead at the scene.

Authorities later confirmed a total of 16 fatalities, including one of the suspected attackers who was shot by police during the response. Officials described the shooting as the worst mass gun attack in Australia in nearly three decades.

Police identified the deceased suspect as Sajid Akram, 50. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, identified by local media as the second alleged gunman, was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by officers.

Two police officers also suffered gunshot wounds and remained in critical but stable condition, New South Wales police said.

Investigators said both men had traveled to the Philippines last month. The purpose of the trip remains under investigation, Australian Federal Police said. Authorities in the Philippines confirmed they are also examining the matter, though no additional details were provided.

According to security analysts and police statements, Islamic State linked groups have previously operated in parts of the Philippines, particularly in the southern region of Mindanao.

Those networks were significantly weakened following clashes with government forces in recent years, including the 2017 siege of Marawi, but have not been fully eliminated.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said early findings suggested the shooting was an ideologically motivated act.

“Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State, allegedly committed by a father and son,” Barrett said at a press briefing in Sydney. She added that the actions were linked to extremist ideology and not to any religious belief.

Police said a vehicle registered to the younger suspect was searched and found to contain improvised explosive devices and two homemade flags linked to Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Australia and many other countries.

Authorities said the attackers fired on a large crowd over about 10 minutes, targeting people attending the Hanukkah event near the Bondi Pavilion. Hundreds of people ran for cover as police rushed to the scene and eventually shot both suspects.

Health officials said approximately 25 injured survivors were being treated at several hospitals across Sydney.

On Tuesday, Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon visited Bondi Beach and laid flowers at a growing memorial near the site of the shooting.

Speaking to reporters, Maimon urged the Australian government to strengthen security measures for Jewish communities.

He said Jewish Australians often feel compelled to practice their faith behind extensive security measures, including surveillance cameras and guards.

Australia’s intelligence chief has previously warned that antisemitism represents a leading threat to public safety, following a rise in incidents over the past 16 months.

Bondi Beach reopened to the public on Tuesday, though few people were present under cloudy skies. Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes continued to accumulate near the pavilion, located just meters from where the shooting occurred.

Bondi Beach, about 8.2 kilometers from central Sydney, is one of Australia’s most recognizable tourist destinations and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Local resident Olivia Robertson, 25, visited the memorial before going to work. She told reporters the attack had deeply shaken the community and challenged long held beliefs about safety in Australia.

Meanwhile, Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old man who confronted one of the attackers and managed to seize a rifle, remained hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Officials credited his actions with preventing further casualties. He has received praise internationally, including public recognition from U.S. President Donald Trump.

A fundraising campaign established to support Ahmed and his family has raised more than A$1.9 million, according to the campaign’s organizers.

The shooting has renewed debate over Australia’s firearms regulations. Police confirmed that Sajid Akram was a licensed gun owner with six registered weapons. Authorities corrected earlier statements, saying his license was issued in 2023 rather than 2015.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the federal government is reviewing gun laws introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which were enacted under a previous Liberal National government.

Former Prime Minister John Howard, who introduced those reforms, warned against allowing the gun debate to distract from addressing antisemitism.

He criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying more should have been done to protect Jewish communities.

The victims of the attack ranged in age and background, including a rabbi who was a father of five, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda Britvan, according to officials and media reports.

Matilda’s aunt, Lina Chernykh, spoke publicly about the family’s loss in an interview with Australian television, describing the shock felt by relatives as they struggled to process the news.

(With files from Reuters)

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Pakistani father and son responsible for deadly Bondi mass shooting, Australian police say

SYDNEY,— At least 15 people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after Muslim gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday, Australian authorities said, describing the incident as a terrorist attack.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said at a press briefing that one of the suspected gunmen was killed at the scene, while another remained in critical condition. Among the 29 people sent to hospitals were two police officers.

Australian police said Monday that the two gunmen responsible for a deadly attack at a Jewish celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach were a father and son of Pakistani origin, as the country mourned its worst outbreak of gun violence in nearly three decades.

Authorities identified the suspects as Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram. Police said the elder Akram was shot and killed by officers at the scene during Sunday’s attack, bringing the total number of deaths to 16. His son was critically wounded and taken to hospital, where he remains under police guard.

Officials said about 40 people were injured during the shooting.

Authorities were investigating whether a third suspect had been involved in the shooting. Lanyon added that a bomb disposal unit was working to secure several suspected improvised explosive devices discovered near the scene.

Mike Burgess, Australia’s top intelligence official, told reporters that one of the suspected attackers was already known to authorities, although the individual had not been considered an immediate threat.

Since the war in Gaza began following radical Islamist group Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, Australia has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents.

Sunday’s shooting was the most serious among those cases, which have included attacks on synagogues, residential buildings, and vehicles, according to authorities.

Mass shootings are uncommon in Australia, which is considered one of the world’s safest countries. Officials said Sunday’s attack was the deadliest since 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people at a tourist site in Tasmania.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a meeting of the national security council and condemned the attack as incomprehensible.

“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy and celebration of faith,” he said. Albanese added that authorities were working to identify anyone connected to the violence.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene at Bondi Beach, which drew hundreds of attendees for the Hanukkah event.

The shooting lasted roughly 10 minutes, sending people fleeing along the sand and into nearby streets and parks. Police estimated about 1,000 people were at the gathering.

Marcos Carvalho, 38, a resident of Bondi Junction, told reporters he had been preparing to leave when the gunfire began. “We all panicked and started running. We left everything behind, like our shoes and bags,” he said. “I must have heard maybe 40 or 50 shots.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the attack an assault by “vile terrorists” on people lighting the first candle of Hanukkah.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the Australian government, saying officials should have acted on repeated warnings about rising antisemitic activity.

Saar said the shooting reflected a broader pattern of antisemitic violence in Australia over the past two years, noting the circulation of slogans such as “Globalise the Intifada.”

Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most popular tourist spots, is usually crowded with locals and visitors.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News that the scale of the attack was unprecedented. He added that his media adviser was among those wounded.

Some witnesses reported seeing civilians intervene during the attack. Bondi resident Grace Mathew said she saw people running in panic before realizing there was an active shooter.

Videos circulating on social media showed a man in a black shirt firing a weapon before being tackled by a bystander wearing a white T-shirt.

Another man was seen firing from a pedestrian bridge. Other footage showed police detaining two men on a bridge, attempting to revive one of them.

Muslim groups in Australia condemned the attack, emphasizing that such acts have no place in society.

In a joint statement, the Australian National Imams Council, the Council of Imams NSW, and the Australian Muslim community expressed sympathy for the victims and their families and called for the perpetrators to face justice.

According to critics, Muslims kill people around the world and then claim to be victims, while arguing that such violence has nothing to do with Islam, despite interpretations that call for the killing of all non-Muslims.

The incident occurred almost 11 years after a lone gunman held 18 people hostage at Sydney’s Lindt Cafe. That standoff ended with the deaths of two hostages and the attacker.

Sussan Ley, leader of Australia’s opposition Liberal Party, said the country was in mourning. “Hateful violence has struck at the heart of an iconic Australian community, a place we all know so well and love, Bondi,” she said.

Authorities continue to investigate the shooting, search for possible accomplices, and determine whether additional threats remain in the area.

The attack has intensified concerns over antisemitic violence in Australia, particularly in light of ongoing tensions related to the conflict in Gaza.

(With files from Reuters)

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