Michael Vaughan recounts Bondi restaurant lockdown during terror attack
Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan has described the tense scenes inside a packed Bondi restaurant as news of a terror attack just streets away filtered through on Sunday evening.
Vaughan, 51, was dining at popular Italian hotspot Totti’s in Bondi with his wife Nicole, his sister-in-law, his two daughters and one of his daughter’s friends when word began to spread that something was seriously wrong at the beach.
He said he first became aware that something was happening when he heard a rush of sirens tearing through Bondi. At first, he assumed it was something more routine for the seaside suburb — “a shark attack or a brawl” — rather than a major security incident.
While the group was still waiting outside for a table, Vaughan said he was on the phone when a staff member quickly made it clear that this was far from a normal Sunday night. “The bouncer walked over with his hands in a gun sign and told me to get inside,” Vaughan wrote in his column for the London Telegraph.
From there, the mood inside the restaurant shifted quickly. “By the time we were sat down, we knew there had been attack, and the social media rumour mill began to swirl. People were saying there were hostages on the beach, and that there were more attacks all over Sydney and Australia. The restaurant locked the doors and made clear no one was leaving until it was safe. That was about 7pm, and we did not leave until almost 9pm.
“I have never experienced anything like it. You know what’s happening around you, but you don’t want to believe it’s happening. There were people eating but it was a very sombre atmosphere.”
Vaughan, in Sydney as part of Fox Sports’ commentary team for the 2025-26 Ashes series, said he focused on staying composed so the children in his group wouldn’t panic, even as details of the attack were still unclear.
He said the restaurant eventually closed early for the night. With roads clogged and services under pressure, the group struggled to secure an Uber or taxi before finally being driven back to Coogee by a friend.
Reflecting on the response, Vaughan praised the bravery shown on the night and the tone of the local reaction, referencing the blunt front page splashed by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph the next morning. “You can only imagine what could have happened if that civilian had not taken the gun off the terrorist, and disarmed him. What a hero. The police response and everyone around was very calm. I love the Aussie spirit. They don’t pull any punches. The front page of the local paper today read 'You Bastards',” he said.
“They are calling it for what it is. Sometimes in the UK we are almost apologetic or make excuses in these situations.
“To target Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah is hideous. People just trying to celebrate a special time of year together on a Sunday. To target Bondi is also horrible. It’s the haven of chill, and a symbol of this great country.”
Jonathan Jackson, 16th December 2025
