Facebook slow to act on posts celebrating Bondi beach massacre, anti-hate group says
Facebook hosted terrorist propaganda that celebrated the murder of Jews and praised Islamic State, a leading anti-hate group has alleged.The posts included celebrations of the Bondi beach massacre that the Community Security Trust says Facebook has been too slow to take down.The posts were still on Facebook on 16 December, two days after the attack, and received shares and likes.Some accounts are Britain-based and those have been reported to counter-terrorism police in the UK as a matter of urgency.One post shows video of the aftermath of the Bondi beach attack, which was allegedly carried out by a father and son who were IS supporters, and says: “Allah is the greatest and praise to Allah.
” It has clearly been viewed, with more than 100 likes, 27 comments and four shares recorded,Fifteen people were killed as they celebrated the Jewish festival of Hanukah in Sydney on 14 December,One of the attackers also died,Another post shows a photo of one of the Bondi beach gunmen and says: “The coming years of art and hell,” and contains praise for an IS leader,This had 12 shares and more than 300 likes.
Facebook said it was in the process of removing some of the posts after being contacted by the Guardian, and said some had already been spotted and removed.Dave Rich, the director of policy for the CST, which works to keep Jewish people safe from attack, said: “The sheer volume of IS-supporting accounts promoting terrorist content on Facebook is deeply alarming, and the posts celebrating the Bondi terrorist attack are utterly nauseating.“Yet again, social media companies are incapable of meeting even their most basic of responsibilities and are putting all of us in danger as a result.This simply should not be happening any more.We will be calling on Ofcom to urgently investigate Meta’s failings and to take strong action where possible.
”Ofcom, the media regulator, said: “If a post is reported to a platform now, the platform must decide whether the content is illegal under UK law, and take it down swiftly if it is.Our job is to make sure sites and apps have appropriate measures in place to comply with their duties.”It said it had received “evidence that suggests terrorist content and illegal hate speech is persisting on some of the largest social media sites”.A spokesperson for Meta, which owns Facebook, declined to answer a series of questions but said: “The content was removed for violating our policies around dangerous organisations and individuals.”A Home Office spokesperson said: “Social media content promoting terrorism or violence against communities is absolutely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.
The law is clear: social media platforms must take action to prevent illegal content on their sites, including terrorist and violent material.”The focus on pro-IS material on popular social media sites comes amid concern about an increase in terrorist efforts to target Jewish people across the west.Two men were convicted on 22 December of a plot to get machine guns and shoot Jewish people around the north-west of England.In that plot and the Sydney massacre, both sets of terrorists’ approaches had a degree of sophistication.Though neither was “directed” by IS, the Sydney attackers visited the Philippines and the north-west England machine-gun plotters had contact with an IS person overseas and were sophisticated enough to try to bypass Jewish community security and infiltrate a Facebook group, giving them details of potential Jewish targets.
Rich said of the English plot: “This is an even more serious plot than the attack on the synagogue in Heaton Park and indicates a much greater level of training and sophistication.”Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, told the Guardian: “The terrorist threats we face do not stand still and we rarely confine them to history.Instead, they flex in intensity and risk over time – and so does our response.“Recent attacks in Manchester and Australia are clear reminders of the range of threats we face, and we continue to ask the public to … report any concerns they see in their real-world or online communities.”
Georgina Hayden’s quick and easy recipe for pimento cheese and pickle loaded crisps | Quick and easy
Pimento cheese, a much-loved American spread, has been a permanent fixture in my kitchen this month. Whether it’s a quick sandwich filling in times of chaos or an effortless party dip, I am addicted. My favourite way to serve it, though, is as part of a loaded crisp platter. Use salted or pickle crisps, and load them up with spoonfuls of pimento cheese, sliced pickles, herbs and heat. Move over nachos, there’s a new crisp platter in town
Ten things I love (and hate) about restaurants in winter
As the wildly popular social media platform celebrates its 10th year, we ask the Topjaw frontman what he loves – and hates – about eating out during the festive season.PiesI love pies. I scoff when people ask: “What is British cuisine?” First, we have the most diverse culinary scene on the planet, with great Asian and Mediterranean food everywhere. And, second, what even is British cuisine?! A pie is one of the greatest dishes ever created. Think a chicken, rabbit and tarragon pie, with good 50:50 butter:potato mash and really good gravy
‘Many over-hyped London restaurants left me cold’: Grace Dent’s best restaurants of 2025 | Grace Dent on restaurants
For reasons that may already be apparent, and that are currently playing on BBC One, I have spent much of 2025 watching people cook scallops and souffles in a windowless television location unit in Digbeth, Birmingham. MasterChef, despite being one of the most exhilarating jobs a girl can do, sucked up most of my waking hours this year, and made my free time extra-precious. So the very best restaurants I found this year – those with zinging hospitality and heart-thumpingly good food – became equally extra-crucial.I’m talking about the likes of Tropea in Harborne, just down the road from the TV studio, and where I’ve spent a fair few Saturdays eating butternut squash arancini, fresh tagliolini and whopping great deep-fried salted cannoli. Over in Bristol, meanwhile, two absolute gems revealed themselves on the very same trip: Ragù and Lapin, both in Wapping Wharf and both in repurposed shipping containers, but entirely different creatures
Countdown to 2026 – a New Year’s Eve menu
When it comes to throwing parties, the world falls into two quite distinct camps: those who love to do so, and those who would rather do almost anything else. Getting organised early is key, and finding a few delicious recipes to start the proceedings will amuse your guests while you try to keep the show on the road.These spicy, citrussy snacks by Thomasina Miers go perfectly with the pink grapefruit mocktails belowA delicious festive starter that can be adapted to serve with a sweet topping for the kidsThese drinks are a refreshing alternative to booze, but also make a delicious mixer for a tequila or gin-based cocktailHome-infused gin for a special festive martini for gifting or serving at partiesBask in the glory of this spread by Honey & Co – no one will ever suspect how little effort was involvedIn Benjamina Ebuehi’s dessert, puddles of spiced cranberry sauce are baked into the chocolate frangipane for a pairing that puts any surfeit of cranberries to good use
The joy of leftovers – what to cook in the calm after Christmas
At this time of year, I like to stay home, shut off from the world and do as little as possible for as long as possible. Eat all the food, embrace all the leftovers and be creative with whatever’s in the kitchen. After the big day, I like to turn leftovers into some sort of pie: they’re forgiving and malleable and work with whatever you have hanging about. This leftovers pie from Tom Hunt and this turkey and ham pie from Felicity Cloake are great places to start. You could absolutely make your own pastry, as Tom does, or use shop-bought if you want to keep things as simple as possible (I always store a few rolls of pastry in the fridge over Christmas for precisely this reason)
Helen Goh’s recipe for an espresso martini pavlova bar | The sweet spot
Your favourite cocktail is now a DIY pavlova party! Pile crisp coffee meringues high with espresso cream, boozy cherries, a drizzle of whisky caramel and a flicker of edible gold leaf, then shake, spoon and sparkle your way into the New Year. A few tips: arrange the toppings in glass bowls or on tiered trays for a beautiful display, add labels for fun and, if it’s sitting out for a while, keep the whipped cream chilled on ice.Prep 10 min Cook 1 hr 40 min Makes 24 meringuesFor the meringues (make up to 3 days ahead) 140g egg whites (from about 4 large eggs)220g caster sugar 2 tsp instant coffee powder dissolved in 1 tsp hot water1 tsp cornflour ½ tsp white vinegar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 pinch fine sea salt Cocoa powder Edible gold leaf (optional)For the espresso brandy cherries (make up to 3 days ahead)400g frozen black cherries 60g light brown sugar 60ml black coffee A pinch of sea salt 2 tbsp brandy, or coffee liqueur (Kahlúa, Tia Maria or similar)½ tsp vanilla extractFor the whisky caramel (make up to 3 days ahead)300g caster sugar 60ml water 150ml double cream 50ml whiskyFor the espresso mascarpone cream (make on the day) 300ml double cream 150g mascarpone 2 tsp coffee grounds 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp cinnamonTo make the meringues, heat the oven to 150C (130C fan)/300F/gas 2 and line two large oven trays with baking paper. In a clean bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites on medium-high to soft peaks. Add the sugar a tablespoon at a time, whisking until thick, glossy peaks form and the sugar dissolves – test by rubbing a bit of the meringue mix between your fingers: it should feel smooth
From Central Cee to Adolescence: in 2025 British culture had a global moment – but can it last?
The best songs of 2025 … you may not have heard
The Guide #223: From surprise TV hits to year-defining records – what floated your boats this year
My cultural awakening: a Turner painting helped me come to terms with my cancer diagnosis
From Marty Supreme to The Traitors: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Jewish klezmer-dance band Oi Va Voi: ‘Musicians shouldn’t have to keep looking over their shoulders’