The relatives of Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian Muslim father of two who confronted one of the suspected shooters during the mass shooting that occurred on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, have expressed their admiration, calling him a “hero.”
Support is rapidly accumulating for the 43-year-old fruit shop owner following the tragic shooting at a Jewish holiday celebration, which resulted in at least 15 fatalities and left 38 individuals hospitalized.
Here’s what we know about al-Ahmed and the public’s response to his courageous actions after the most devastating mass shooting in nearly three decades in the country.
What transpired?
According to law enforcement, two assailants—a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son—opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday.
Ahmed al-Ahmed has been hailed as a hero for running toward one of the Bondi Beach shooters and likely preventing more deaths. Al-Ahmed, who served in Syria’s security forces, told his cousin he was going to die before jumping into action.
Videos that circulated widely on social media and have been confirmed by CBC News show a man, later identified by a minister as al-Ahmed, hiding behind a parked vehicle.
He then charged at the assailant from behind, wrestled the rifle from him, and aimed it at the shooter, who collapsed to the ground.
The individual disarmed by al-Ahmed attempted to rise again but fell once more after being fired upon by police. The second shooter exchanged gunfire with law enforcement for another minute before he too was subdued.
What is his health status?
According to al-Ahmed’s family, he sustained injuries to his hand and arm and is currently recuperating in the hospital from bullet wounds.
His parents, Mohamed Fateh and Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, informed state broadcaster ABC News on Monday that their son was shot four to five times in the shoulder and is awaiting further surgical procedures for his injuries.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that al-Ahmed was shot by a second attacker, emphasizing that his courageous actions saved lives.
“What we witnessed in the last 24 hours represented the darkest aspects of humanity in an act of terrorism. Yet, we also witnessed the finest qualities of humanity in Ahmed al-Ahmed, who ran toward danger, risking his own life,” Albanese remarked to ABC.
What has his family stated?
Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed mentioned that his son is an Australian citizen who sells fruits and vegetables. He noted that Ahmed was enjoying coffee with a friend nearby when the gunfire erupted.
“My son is a hero. He served in the police, and he is passionate about protecting others,” Mohamed Fateh conveyed to ABC News on Monday. The specific police force and his role during his service remain unclear.
“Upon seeing people lying on the ground and witnessing the bloodshed, his conscience compelled him to confront one of the terrorists and take away his weapon.”
Police tape cordons off an area near Bondi Beach on Monday in the aftermath of a shooting a day earlier during a Jewish holiday celebration in Sydney, Australia. (Hollie Adams/Reuters)
Mohamed Fateh and Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed shared that they arrived in Sydney from Syria just a few months ago. They told ABC that they had been apart from their son since his arrival in Australia in 2006.
Malakeh expressed her distress, stating she felt “guilty and cried” after learning her son had been shot in what she described as “an incident.”
“I am proud that my son was helping and rescuing others,” she remarked.
“He witnessed people dying, and when that individual [the attacker] ran out of ammunition, he seized the opportunity to take the gun from him, but he was shot in the process,” she added.
How have residents responded to his actions?
Outside St. George Hospital, community members gathered to show their support.
Misha and Veronica Pochuev brought flowers to al-Ahmed alongside their seven-year-old daughter, Miroslava.
“My husband is Russian, my father is Jewish, and my grandfather is Muslim. This isn’t just about Bondi; it’s about every individual,” Pochuev stated.
Aaron Ashton called al-Ahmed a “national hero” at a memorial site the day following the shooting.
“Many people around the globe would have acted differently; numerous individuals would have fled from the gunfire. He ran directly into it,” Ashton told Reuters.
Another local expressed their awe at his bravery, describing it as “mesmerizing.”
“I can hardly believe he had the bravery to charge in and risk his own life for so many… he saved countless lives. Without him, who knows how long this could have continued?” Jaymee Williams remarked.
People in Sydney, Australia, praised Ahmed al-Ahmed after he was identified as the bystander who charged a gunman during a mass shooting event, praising his bravery for rushing into a dangerous situation. Al-Ahmed’s family has said he is in hospital after surgery for bullet wounds.
A GoFundMe initiative launched for al-Ahmed has amassed over $1.1 million AUD ($1 million CAD) within a day.
Yomna Touni, 43, remained at the hospital for several hours to provide support on behalf of a Muslim-led charity that is also collecting funds for al-Ahmed.
“The goal is to gather as much money as possible for his swift recovery,” she stated.
Lubaba Alhmidi AlKahil, a spokesperson for the Australians for Syria Association, told As It Happens host Nil Köksal on CBC Radio that al-Ahmed made the community proud.
“Not only the Syrians. Every peaceful human being is proud of him,” she said.
AlKahil visited him in the hospital on Monday. She reported that he was dizzy and unable to speak much, indicating a long recovery ahead.
In the wake of significant attacks like this, AlKahil noted that Muslims often brace for potential backlash and Islamophobia.
However, she believes al-Ahmed’s actions have shifted the narrative.
“He saved the individuals on Bondi Beach, but he also saved all Muslims,” she expressed. “We are genuinely grateful to him.”
What have political leaders commented?
Messages of tribute have flooded in from leaders both nationally and internationally.
Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, where Sydney is situated, shared on social media that he visited al-Ahmed at St. George Hospital to convey the appreciation of residents across the state.
“Ahmed is a real-life hero,” his post stated. “Thank you, Ahmed.” A photograph depicted Minns at his bedside, with Ahmed resting on pillows and his left arm in a cast.
U.S. President Donald Trump referred to al-Ahmed as “a very, very brave person” who saved numerous lives.
