Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old local fruit vendor and father of two, has been hailed as a hero by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after bravely disarming a gunman during a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney.
A man who disarmed a terrorist has been identified as a Muslim named Ahmed Al Ahmad during an attack on a Jewish event in Sydney.
He prevented further harm to Jews. pic.twitter.com/OvU0y0iQq4
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) December 14, 2025
The attack unfolded on Sunday at Bondi Beach during the “Hanukkah by the Sea” celebration, when two gunmen opened fire on the gathering. Authorities said at least 12 people were killed and more than two dozen wounded, though some media reports put the death toll higher as investigations continue.
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Dramatic footage that later went viral shows Al Ahmed, who was unarmed, tackling one of the attackers and wrestling a rifle away from him before turning the weapon back on the assailant—an intervention widely credited with preventing further bloodshed.
According to relatives, Al Ahmed sustained at least two gunshot wounds to the arm during the struggle and was rushed to hospital for surgery. His injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening. Speaking to 7News, his cousin Mustafa said the family was still awaiting further medical updates. “He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” he said. “We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero, 100 percent.”
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Police have described the shooting as a “terrorist incident.” One of the alleged attackers was killed during a firefight with police, while the second was taken into custody in critical condition. Investigators also secured several “suspicious devices,” believed to be improvised explosives, from a car linked to the attackers parked near the beach.
TWITTER HAS CHANGED THE LIKE BUTTON TO HONOUR HERO AHMED AL AHMED.
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SALUTE TO THIS MEN FOR SAVING MANY LIVES AT BONDI BEACH, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. 🇦🇺#SydneyAttack #bondibeach #Australia #AhmedAlAhmed #NaveedAkram pic.twitter.com/rxgNVLDXat
— 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗮 🌻🦋 (@ViralGirl_X) December 14, 2025
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the shooting, describing it as an “act of evil anti-Semitism” and vowing a decisive response. “There has been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi at the Hanukkah By the Sea celebration,” Albanese said. “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. This is an act of evil anti-Semitism—terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation.”
The prime minister added that Australia would work to eradicate “hate, violence, and terrorism in our nation,” as tributes continued to pour in for Al Ahmed, whose actions have been widely praised for saving lives amid one of the country’s deadliest recent attacks.