A Sydney resident is being hailed as a hero after he intervened to disarm one of the alleged shooters during the Hanukkah attack at Bondi Beach, an incident that left 15 people dead and 42 wounded. The moment was captured on video and shared by ABC News.
The footage shows Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, sprinting toward one of the alleged shooters and taking away the weapon. He then lowers the gun toward the assailant, who retreats as a result.
Al-Ahmed, a father of two, was treated for bullet wounds at a hospital and later photographed with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.
Premier Minns praised Al-Ahmed as a genuine everyday hero, crediting his swift courage with saving “countless” lives and stating that more people would have died if he had not acted. He also shared gratitude from across the state after meeting al-Ahmed.
During the National Menorah Lighting in Washington, D.C., Rabbi Levi Shemtov, director of American Friends of Lubavitch, commended al-Ahmed’s bravery and urged prayers for his recovery, noting that the bystander was not Jewish but nonetheless risked his safety to stop an attacker and prevent further loss of life.
A GoFundMe campaign launched for al-Ahmed has drawn nearly $1.5 million in donations from thousands of supporters.
The fundraiser’s organizers highlighted the surge of public support for Ahmed following Bondi Beach’s events.
Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed, Ahmed’s father, told reporters that his son is a hero. He noted Ahmed’s background in policing and his instinct to protect others.
Officials said the weekend attack involved two suspects—father and son, aged 50 and 24—who were not yet named publicly. The father died, and the son was hospitalized. Authorities recovered six firearms and two improvised explosives at the scene.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the assault as an act of pure evil, antisemitism, and terrorism, calling it in a post on Instagram an act that demands condemnation.
