Family prays for ‘hero’ who wrestled gun from Bondi shooter
The parents of a “hero” bystander who wrestled a gun from one of the Bondi Beach attackers have said they are praying he recovers from his wounds.
Video verified by the BBC showed Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, running at the gunman and seizing his weapon, before turning the gun round on him and forcing his retreat.
His cousin said Mr Ahmed had since undergone surgery for gunshot wounds to his arm and hand, while his mother told local media: “We pray that God saves him.”
The fruit shop owner and father of two has been branded a hero for intervening in the shooting, which killed 15 people and left dozens injured at an event to celebrate Hanukkah on Sunday.
Police have declared it a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community.
Mr Ahmed’s cousin, Mustafa, told 7News Australia late on Sunday: “He is a hero, 100% he is a hero. He has two shots, one in his arm and one in his hand.”
In an update early on Monday, Mustafa said: “I hope he will be fine. I saw him last night. He was alright but we’re waiting to see what the doctor (says).”
His parents told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he had been shot four or five times.
His father said Mr Ahmed “wasn’t thinking about the background of the people he’s saving, the people dying in the street”.
“He doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there’s no difference between one citizen and another.”
They said they had been separated from their son since 2006 when he came to Australia. They had travelled to Sydney from Syria a couple of months ago.
Chris Minns/Facebook
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns shared a picture of himself and Mr Ahmed late on Monday and described him as a “real-life hero”.
“His incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” he wrote on Facebook.
He said it had been an honour to spend time with Mr Ahmed and “to pass on the thanks of people across NSW”.
“There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed’s selfless courage.”
Meanwhile, a US billionaire donated A$99,999 (US$ 65,000; £49,000) to Mr Ahmed, calling him a “brave hero”.
William Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, made the top donation to a GoFundMe for Mr Ahmed, which had raised more than $1m by late Monday.
The footage of Mr Ahmed’s intervention was shared widely online.
It shows one of the gunmen standing behind a palm tree near a small pedestrian bridge, aiming and shooting his gun towards a target out of sight.
Mr Ahmed, who was hiding behind a parked car, is seen leaping out at the attacker and tackling him.
He manages to wrestle the gun from the attacker, pushes him to the ground and points the gun towards him. The attacker begins to retreat back to the bridge.
Mr Ahmed then lowers the weapon and raises one hand in the air, appearing to show police he was not one of the shooters.
The same attacker is later seen on the bridge picking up another weapon and firing again.
Another gunman also continues firing from the bridge. It is unclear who or what they are aiming at.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday: “We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others.
“These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives.”
Speaking at a White House Christmas reception, US President Donald Trump also praised Mr Ahmed, saying he had “great respect” for him.
“It’s been a very, very brave person, actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters, and saved a lot of lives,” he said.
Police say that the two shooters involved were a father and son aged 50 and 24. They have been named by local media as Sajid Akram and son Naveed Akram.
Sajid Akram died at the scene while his son remains in hospital in critical condition.
