The hero of Bondi Beach shot twice in his attempt to disarm one of the killers has been revealed.
Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, was named by family as the man who wrestled one of the gunmen to the ground before aiming it back at the attacker forcing him to retreat. Mr al Ahmed, a Muslim father-of-two with no gun experience, was passing Bondi Beach when he heard the shooting erupt.
The fruit seller was shot twice by the other suspect after he snuck up on one of the gunmen and managed to disarm him.
‘He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,’ his cousin Mustafa told 7News.
‘We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 percent.
‘He was shot once in his arm and again in his hand. I’m still waiting to see him.’
In a video after the attack, Ahmed appears to be receiving first aid. He is coherent in the video and can be seen speaking to responders as they tend to his wounds. Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman are among the twelve dead in the Bondi terror massacre, with at least 29 taken to hospital with injuries.
The attack on a Jewish Chanukah celebration has now been declared a terror incident. Thousands of people were also shown running off the beach in swim shorts and wrapped in towels as they heard gunshots.
Among those killed was a rabbi leading a family event on the beach. One of the gunmen also died in the incident, while another is in custody. Two police officers were also injured in the attack. People were advised to take cover and avoid the area as officers handled the developing situation.
Bondi beach is a popular spot with both tourists and expats. The shooting occurred during a ‘Chanukah by the sea’ event organised by Chabad, which confirmed that one of victims was assistant Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Today marks the start of the eight-day Jewish festival of light.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese said in a press conference the attack was an ‘an act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism’.
‘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’, he said.
‘There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear, we will eradicate it.
‘Amidst this vile act of violence and hate will emerge a moment of national unity where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish faith at this dark moment for our nation.
‘Our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage.’
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said in a statement: ‘We are devastated to hear reports of a shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, with multiple fatalities at a Jewish Hanukkah event.
‘While details emerge, we have been in touch with our Australian partners at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry to express our solidarity and offer our support.
‘We have also been in touch with the UK Government, who are monitoring the situation closely, to discuss the UK response.
‘The scourges of terrorism and antisemitism are shared, international challenges and need concerted and determined action to defeat them.’
New South Wales Police said in a statement: ‘Emergency services were called to Campbell Parade about 6.45pm (Sunday December 14 local time), responding to reports of shots being fired.
‘Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended assisted by multiple resources across the city.
‘A number of suspicious items located in the vicinity are being examined by specialist officers and an exclusion zone is in place.
‘A multi-agency response is continuing.
‘An extensive crime scene has been established and inquiries are now under way.
‘There have been no reports of any other incidents in Sydney connected to this incident.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he was being updated on the ‘deeply distressing’ situation in Sydney. British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would discuss the issue with her Australian counterpart later today. She told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: ‘I’ve just seen the breaking news as I’ve arrived into the studio here this morning.
‘I can fully understand the anxiety this might be causing people here at home about relatives over in Australia, but first and foremost, our thoughts must be with the victims of this attack in Australia and with with the Australian people as well.
‘We will obviously watch closely as details emerge of what exactly has happened, and I’ll be talking to my Australian counterpart later on today.’