In a video shared online, a man can be seen lunging at one of the gunmen, overpowering him and wresting his weapon from his grasp. Video / X - @DataAnalyst1309
The onlooker who single-handedly took down a gunman during a terror attack targeting Bondi beachgoers at a religious celebration is being lauded as a “genuine hero”.
At least 16 people have died - including one of two gunmen - and scores hospitalised after a pair openedfire targeting those at a Chanukah festival in the Sydney suburb of Bondi last night.
In a video shared around the world, a man can be seen lunging at one of the gunmen and wrestling his weapon off him.
The man then points the firearm at the gunman before he cowers and runs away to take cover.
This brave old man attacked one of the shooters & snatched the gun from him at Bondi beach, Australia! pic.twitter.com/zsjMIpnIaV
In the background, another gunman can be seen continuing to fire into the crowd.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called the man a “genuine hero”.
“It’s the most unbelievable scene I have ever seen,” he said.
“A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life in danger to save the lives of others.”
“I have no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
Australian Prime Minister Albanese said, “We have seen Australians today run towards danger, to help others.”
He last night described the attack as an act of “evil anti-Semitism”.
Within hours of the mass shooting, it was deemed an act of terrorism and the National Security Committee had been convened.
More than 1000 people were believed to have attended the event, which marked the first night of Chanukah.
“Australians have had their lives cruelly stolen.”
Minns said the attack was a “terrible night for Sydney”.
One of the two gunmen believed to have gunned down those from the Jewish community event is among those dead, New South Wales Police confirmed.
The scene at Bondi Beach in the aftermath of the shootings. Photo / Sam Sherry
The other suspect in the shootings was in a critical condition and New South Wales Commissioner of Police Mal Lanyon said authorities were probing the involvement of a third person.
A member of the local Jewish community told a Herald reporter on the scene there were bodies all over the ground.
