The terrible terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday has shocked people all over the world.
At the same time, people are focusing on an amazing hero: Ahmed al Ahmed.
He was interviewed by security services back in 2019.
Sadly, at least 15 people lost their lives, and many others were hurt when two gunmen opened fire on families at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 14. This incident is now being treated as an act of terrorism.
The attack happened while over 1,000 Jewish people were celebrating Hanukkah on the well-known beach.
Among the victims identified so far are a 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor, a British rabbi, a retired New South Wales police officer, and a French national.
The suspected attackers, described as a father-and-son pair, are 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram. Sajid was pronounced dead at the scene, while Naveed is reportedly in critical condition at the hospital.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned that the two acted alone but were “clearly” driven by extremism. Australian authorities state that the two suspected men “weren’t part of a wider cell,” even though they were interviewed by security services back in 2019.
In the midst of this tragedy, attention has shifted to the brave civilian who confronted one of the gunmen. Ahmed al Ahmed’s heroic actions, which were caught on a viral video, showed him putting his own life on the line to tackle the suspect and take away the firearm. He is currently recovering in the hospital after getting injured while disarming one of the suspected gunmen.
Trump’s comments regarding Ahmed
As per his father, Mr. Ahmed was having coffee with a friend in the vicinity when the attack started. Ahmed, who relocated to Australia from Syria in 2006, was first spotted crouching behind parked vehicles while the shooter fired. When chaos broke out, he jumped onto the gunman’s back and engaged in a fierce struggle for the weapon.
He managed to grab the rifle and aimed it at the assailant. His actions certainly saved many lives and caught the attention of global leaders, including President Donald Trump, who referred to Mr. Ahmed’s actions as ‘very brave.’
‘A very brave individual who confronted one of the shooters directly and saved numerous lives. A very brave person who is currently in the hospital and seriously injured,’ Mr. Trump stated.
The 43-year-old father of two, who operates a fruit shop in Sydney, has received widespread acclaim for his courage. A fundraising campaign for Ahmed has already collected over $1.3 million, with billionaire Jewish investor Bill Ackman donating $99,000.
The GoFundMe page created ‘to express our gratitude and support’ states:
‘After witnessing the remarkable actions of the hero who helped disarm one of the attackers during the Bondi tragedy, an act that prevented the loss of many more lives, we felt the need to respond. In a moment filled with chaos and peril, he stepped up without a second thought. His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without concern for his own safety. Initial reports suggest he was shot twice while protecting others.’
Ahmed’s family has confirmed that he suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and hand but is on the mend. His cousin Mustafa told 7News Australia:
‘He is a hero, 100 percent he is a hero. He has two gunshot wounds, one in his arm and one in his hand.’
Latest update
Mustafa shared in a later update:
“I hope he will be okay. I saw him last night. He seemed fine, but we’re waiting to hear what the doctor says.”
Ahmed’s father spoke about his son’s courage:
“When he acted, he wasn’t considering the backgrounds of the people he was helping, or the ones dying in the street. He doesn’t judge based on nationality. Especially here in Australia, every citizen is equal.”
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed in the hospital and posted on X: “Ahmed is a true hero. His amazing bravery last night undoubtedly saved many lives when he disarmed a terrorist at great personal risk. It was a privilege to spend time with him just now and to convey the gratitude of people across NSW. There’s no doubt that more lives would have been lost if it weren’t for Ahmed’s selfless bravery.”
