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- Author, Emily Atkinson
- Author title, BBCNews
The “hero” filmed fighting with one of the attackers in the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, the popular beach in Sydney, Australia, has been identified as Ahmed al Ahmed.
A video confirmed by the BBC shows Ahmed running towards the attacker, snatching his gun from him, then pointing it at him and forcing him to retreat.
The 43-year-old is the owner of a fruit shop and the father of two children. He remains in hospital having undergone surgery for gunshot wounds to his arm and hand, his family has told 7News Australia.
Ahmed’s cousin Mustafa told 7News Australia on Sunday night: “He’s a hero without a doubt. He has two gunshot wounds, one in the arm and one in the hand.”
It is not clear how Ahmed was injured, but this Monday Mustafa gave more details about his condition: “I hope he is fine. I saw him last night. He was fine, but we will wait to see what the doctors say.”
Ahmed’s parents told Australian media outlet ABC that he had been shot four or five times.
“We pray to God to save him,” his mother said.
And his father added: “When he did what he did, he didn’t think about the origins of the people he was saving, about the people who were dying on the streets.”
“It makes no distinction between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there is no distinction between one citizen and another.”
image source, Tessa Wong/BBC
Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in the shooting on Sunday evening as more than 1,000 people attended an event marking the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
The police described it as a terrorist incident directed against this religious community.
According to police, the two attackers involved were a father and son, aged 50 and 24.
They confirmed that the 50-year-old man died at the scene, while the 24-year-old remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The confrontation
Pictures of Ahmed’s crime quickly went viral.
They show one of the attackers standing behind a palm tree near a small footbridge, aiming and firing his weapon at a target out of sight.
Then Ahmed, who was hiding behind a parked car, appears and rushes at the attacker, whom he manages to knock down.
After a struggle, he manages to snatch the gun from him, pushes him to the ground and points the same gun at him. The attacker then begins to retreat towards the bridge.
Ahmed then lowers the gun and raises one hand in the air, apparently to show the police that he was not one of the shooters.
The same attacker is later seen on the bridge picking up another gun and shooting again.
The other suspect also continues shooting from the bridge. It is not clear who or what they are targeting.
image source, Tessa Wong/BBC
“He is a true hero”
At a press conference on Sunday evening, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns praised the bravery of Ahmed, whose name had not been announced at the time.
“This man is a true hero and I have no doubt that many, many people are alive tonight because of his courage.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement: “Today we saw Australians going into harm’s way to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also praised Ahmed from the White House, saying he had “great respect.”
“It was actually a very, very brave person who came and attacked one of the attackers head-on and saved a lot of lives,” Trump said.
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