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Like galore Australians strolling astatine Bondi Beach connected long, lukewarm summertime evenings, Ahmed al Ahmed conscionable wanted a cupful of java with a friend. Around him, a bloody massacre erupted arsenic 2 gunmen targeted Jews during Hanukkah festivities astatine a parkland adjacent to the shore.
Soon al Ahmed was creeping, bent over, betwixt 2 parked cars, earlier barreling straight toward 1 of the unsuspecting shooters. In video that has been viewed millions of times astir the world, the 44-year-old begetter tin beryllium seen tackling 1 of the gunmen, wrestling the man's shotgun from his grip and turning it connected the attacker.
The communicative of the Syrian-Australian Muslim store proprietor who enactment an extremity to the rampage of 1 of the shooters connected Sunday has been seized upon by a state desperately seeking comfortableness aft 1 of its darkest hours: the slaying of 15 radical arsenic they celebrated their Jewish faith.
"At a infinitesimal wherever we person seen evil perpetrated, helium shines retired arsenic an illustration of the spot of humanity," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday, arsenic helium near a Sydney infirmary wherever al Ahmed is being treated for gunshot wounds. "We are a brave country. Ahmed al Ahmed represents the champion of our country."
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits Ahmed al Ahmed, the antheral who charged astatine 1 of the gunmen and seized his shotgun during the deadly onslaught connected a Jewish lawsuit astatine Bondi Beach, astatine St George Hospital successful Sydney, Australia, Dec. 16, 2025.
Australian Prime Minister's Office/Handout/REUTERS
A fundraising leafage established by Australians who had ne'er met al Ahmed had attracted by Tuesday nighttime donations by immoderate 40,000 people, who gave 2.3 cardinal Australian dollars ($1.5 million). Among the supporters was the billionaire hedge money manager William Ackman, who pledged AU$99,000.
Al Ahmed, who is joined with 2 young daughters, faces a agelong conflict ahead, those who person spoken to him since Sunday's massacre say. He was changeable aggregate times successful the near arm, seemingly by the 2nd gunman successful the onslaught arsenic the antheral fired indiscriminately from a footbridge.
He has already undergone country and much operations are scheduled, said Lubaba alhmidi Alkahil, a spokesperson for the Australians for Syria Association, who visited al Ahmed successful a infirmary precocious Monday. The "quiet and humble" antheral was conscious but frail and faced astatine slightest six months of recovery, Alkahil said.
Under Australia's national, tax-funded wellness attraction system, Al Ahmed, who is simply a imperishable ineligible nonmigratory of the country, is improbable to look immoderate bills for his care.
In the days since the attack, a heap of floral tributes and notes of acknowledgment has grown extracurricular the tiny convenience store al Ahmed owns other a bid presumption successful suburban Sydney. Meanwhile, helium has received visits astatine the infirmary from Australia's leaders, seemingly telling Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state, that he'd instrumentality the aforesaid enactment again.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visits Ahmed al Ahmed, who hid down parked cars earlier tackling and seizing a firearm from 1 of the gunmen during the deadly onslaught connected a Jewish vacation gathering astatine Bondi Beach, successful Sydney Australia, astatine a infirmary successful Sydney, Dec. 15, 2025, successful a representation shared online by Minns.
Chris Minns via X/via REUTERS
He has been hailed arsenic a leader by satellite leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Australia's Governor General, who is the typical of Britain's King Charles successful the country. Minns said al Ahmed saved "countless" lives successful what the premier said was "the astir unbelievable country I've ever seen."
Al Ahmed lived successful the municipality of Nayrab successful Syria's Idlib portion earlier helium arrived successful Australia, his relative Mohammad al Ahmed told The Associated Press. He near Syria successful 2006 aft finishing his studies, earlier the 2011 wide protests against the authorities of then-President Bashar Assad that were met with a brutal crackdown and spiraled into a astir 14-year civilian war.
Nayrab was heavy bombed by Assad's forces with astir of the town's houses flattened and reduced to rubble. On Tuesday, al Ahmed was the speech of the town.
"Ahmed did truly a heroic job," his cousin, Mohammad al Ahmed told The Associated Press. "Without immoderate hesitation, helium tackled the violent and disarmed him conscionable to prevention guiltless people."
The uncle and relative of Ahmed al-Ahmed, some named Mohammed al-Ahmed, look astatine video of Ahmed al-Ahmed, the bystander who disarmed a gunman during a shooting onslaught connected a Hanukkah lawsuit astatine Sydney's Bondi Beach, successful the municipality of Nayrab, successful Syria's Idlib province, Dec. 16, 2025.
Mahmoud Hassano/REUTERS
Ahmed al Ahmed's parents, who came to Sydney this twelvemonth to reunite with their son, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that their lad had served with the constabulary and successful the cardinal information forces successful Syria. Father Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed said his son's "conscience and soul" compelled him to enactment connected Sunday.
"I consciousness pridefulness and grant due to the fact that my lad is simply a leader of Australia," the begetter said.
In the aftermath of the wide killing, a state roiling from 1 of the worst hate-fueled attacks ever connected its ungraded - allegedly committed by an Australian nonmigratory who arrived from India successful 1998 and his Australian-born lad - looked for anticipation amid their grief.
Other stories of heroism person besides emerged.
They included the communicative of a joined couple, Boris and Sofia Gurman, who were some killed portion trying to halt 1 of the shooters arsenic helium climbed from his car and began the massacre, their household has told Australian quality outlets.
Boris and Sofia Gurman are seen connected dashcam video trying to halt the deadly panic onslaught connected a Hanukkah solemnisation astatine Australia's Bondi Beach.
Jenny
"Bondi locals, unneurotic they lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone they met with kindness, warmth and respect," the household said successful a statement. "Boris and Sofia were devoted to their household and to each other. They were the bosom of our family, and their lack has near an immeasurable void."
Reuven Morrison, 62, was besides killed portion trying to halt the horror, according to his daughter, Sheina Gutnick. After al Ahmed wrestled the weapon from 1 shooter, Morrison tin beryllium seen throwing objects astatine the gunman - earlier helium was changeable by the 2nd man.
"My beloved father, Reuven Morrison was changeable dormant for being Jewish astatine a Hanukkah lawsuit connected Bondi Beach portion protecting lives, portion jumping up, putting his ain beingness astatine hazard to prevention his chap Jewish assemblage members," Gutnick told CBS News earlier this week.
An undated household photograph shared with CBS News by Sheina Gutnick shows her with her father, Reuven Morrison, 62, who was among the 15 radical killed connected Dec. 14, 2025, erstwhile 2 gunmen opened occurrence connected a Jewish gathering astatine Bondi Beach successful Australia.
Courtesy of Sheina Gutnick
Acts of courageousness similar these were cited by galore connected societal media and successful quality outlets arsenic examples of what being Australian should mean.
"When helium did what helium did, helium wasn't reasoning astatine each astir the inheritance of the radical he's saving, the radical dying successful the street," Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed said of his son. "He doesn't discriminate betwixt 1 nationality and another, particularly present successful Australia there's nary quality betwixt 1 national and another."
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