What we know about Ahmed al-Ahmed, ‘hero’ who disarmed Bondi attacker

During the deadly shooting astatine Australia’s Bondi Beach successful Sydney connected Sunday, a bystander was filmed tackling and disarming 1 of the attackers.

The man, identified arsenic 43-year-old fruit-shop proprietor Ahmed al-Ahmed, has been hailed arsenic a hero.

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On Tuesday, Anthony Albanese, Australia’s premier minister, said al-Ahmed’s actions were an illustration of “Australians coming together”.

“Ahmed al-Ahmed … took the weapon disconnected that perpetrator astatine large hazard to himself and suffered superior wounded arsenic a effect of that, and is presently going done operations contiguous successful hospital,” Albanese said.

This is what we cognize astir al-Ahmed.

What happened astatine Bondi Beach?

During a gathering astatine a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, 2 men opened occurrence astatine Bondi Beach, sidesplitting 15 people and wounding astatine slightest 42.

In a quality league connected Monday, New South Wales Police identified the suspects arsenic a 50-year-old antheral and his 24-year-old son. The begetter was changeable and killed by the constabulary during the attack.

Authorities are referring to this arsenic an anti-Semitic violent attack.

Who is Ahmed al-Ahmed?

Al-Ahmed, 43, owns a effect store successful different country of Sydney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed connected Monday.

In video footage from the country of the shooting, al-Ahmed tin beryllium seen disarming 1 of the attackers. He grabs the attacker from behind, twists him astir and disarms him. He past lifts the weapon and points it astatine the attacker, who has fallen to the ground. The attacker gets up and backs away, yet leaving the scene.

Al-Ahmed is an Australian Muslim national of Syrian origin, and comes from the colony of al-Nayrab, adjacent Idlib successful Syria, a comparative of his, who identified himself arsenic Mustafa Asad, told the Al Araby tv network. Al-Ahmed is understood to person moved to Australia successful 2006.

Al-Ahmed was having luncheon successful the country erstwhile the shooting took place, and helium intervened, his brother, Huthaifa, told Australian nationalist broadcaster ABC.

“I’m truly arrogant astir my brother,” Huthaifa told ABC.

Several societal media accounts astir the satellite tried to discredit al-Ahmed, claiming variously that helium was a Lebanese Maronite Christian oregon a Jewish man. Some adjacent tried to springiness him a wholly antithetic sanction for a while. These claims were debunked erstwhile Albanese confirmed his individuality connected Monday.

Was al-Ahmed injured?

Yes. Al-Ahmed’s relative, Asad, told the Australian tv quality work 7News that al-Ahmed was changeable doubly during the incident.

He was past taken to infirmary wherever helium has been treated for his slug wounds. His member said helium is getting better, but has not afloat recovered yet, ABC reported.

How is helium now?

Al-Ahmed is being treated astatine Saint George Hospital successful Kogarah, New South Wales.

On Tuesday, Albanese told a quality league that helium met with al-Ahmad connected the aforesaid day. Albanese added that al-Ahmad’s parents and different relatives are visiting him successful Australia.

Albanese said that al-Ahmad volition acquisition country connected Wednesday.

“I thanked him for the lives that helium helped to prevention and I wished him each the precise champion with his country that helium volition undertake tomorrow,” the Australian PM said during the quality conference.

What has the Australian authorities said astir al-Ahmed’s actions?

Albanese said the actions of the 2 attackers were “completely retired of spot with the mode that Australia functions arsenic a society”, contrasting them with al-Ahmed’s response.

“At the champion of times, what we spot is Australians coming together. And what I privation is for Australians to travel together, for this to beryllium reinforcing the request for america to beforehand nationalist unity, and that is critical. There is nary spot successful Australia for anti-Semitism. There is nary spot for hatred,” Albanese said.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns posted a representation connected Instagram connected Monday with al-Ahmed astatine the hospital, writing: “Ahmed is simply a real-life hero. Last night, his unthinkable bravery nary uncertainty saved countless lives erstwhile helium disarmed a violent astatine tremendous idiosyncratic risk.”

What has the nationalist effect been?

A fundraiser for al-Ahmed connected the crowdfunding level GoFundMe has raised much than $218,000. The American billionaire hedge money manager, Bill Ackman, is the biggest donor truthful far, contributing much than $66,000 and sharing the fundraiser connected his X account.

On Monday, GoFundMe posted connected X: “We’re seeing an outpouring of emotion for Ahmed al-Ahmed pursuing his heroic actions astatine Bondi Beach. We’re moving straight with organizers to guarantee funds safely scope Ahmed & his family. All funds stay securely held with our outgo processors during verification until transfer.”

Al-Ahmed has been praised astir the world.

“A Muslim, 43-year-old begetter of two, who bravely risked his beingness to prevention his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah,” New York City Comptroller Brad Lander wrote connected societal media. “Praying for his afloat and speedy recovery. And truthful profoundly inspired by his example.”

New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani besides held al-Ahmed up arsenic an illustration of courageousness against hate.

“On Bondi Beach today, arsenic men with agelong guns targeted innocents, different antheral ran towards the gunfire and disarmed a shooter,” Mamdani wrote.

“Tonight, arsenic Jewish New Yorkers airy menorahs and usher successful a archetypal nighttime of Hanukkah clouded by grief, fto america look to his illustration and face hatred with the urgency and enactment it demands.”