Bondi Beach hero Ahmed al-Ahmed with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns in hospital. Photo / @ChrisMinnsMP, X
A hero who disarmed one of the two gunmen at Bondi Beach told his cousin he thought he was going to die before taking on the attacker.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian national who served in the police, said: “I’m going to die … tell my family I saved people’s lives,” before he charged at one of the shooters and wrestled away his rifle.
Al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old father-of-two, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.
Outside the hospital Jozay Alkanj, told reporters of his cousin’s bravery.
“He said ‘I’m going to die, please see my family and tell them that I went down to save people’s lives,’” Alkanj said.
Al-Ahmed’s father said his son served “with the police and under central security forces” and had “the impulse to protect people”. It was not clear if he served in the police in Syria or in Australia.
Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed added: “When he saw people lying on the ground and the blood everywhere, immediately, his conscience and his soul compelled him to pound on one of the terrorists … I feel proud and honoured, because my son is a hero of Australia.”
Mustafa al-Asaad, the cousin of the hero, said: “When he saw people dying and their families being shot, he couldn’t bear to see people dying. It was a humanitarian act, more than anything else.”
Al-Ahmed, the father of two young daughters, arrived in Australia from Idlib, Syria, in 2006. His parents had only recently joined him in Sydney after years of separation.
A GoFundMe campaign established for al-Ahmed’s recovery raised more than A$1 million ($1.15m) within hours.
Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, contributed nearly A$100,000 and shared the fundraiser on social media.
At least 16 people were killed, including 15 victims and one of the assailants, in Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades. Police said 42 people remained hospitalised.
Al-Ahmed, who owns a fruit shop in the Sydney suburb of Sutherland, was shot four to five times in his shoulder, arm and hand after seizing the gunman’s rifle from behind, according to his family.
Video footage widely shared on social media showed the Australian citizen hiding behind parked cars before rushing toward the gunman, leaping on him and taking the weapon from his hands.
Social media footage shows one of the alleged attackers, using what appears to be a Beretta BRX1 straight-pull hunting rifle.
Experts say his shooting technique reveals prior training. The suspect’s tactical reload, sight alignment, and target transitions suggest he underwent firearms instruction before carrying out the terror attack.
Al-Ahmed’s father said his son was having coffee with a friend when he heard gunshots ring out. He added that his son would have acted to protect anyone, regardless of background.
“When he did what he did, he wasn’t thinking about the background of the people he’s saving,” Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed said. “He doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and another.”
Al-Ahmed’s mother told ABC: “He saw they were dying, and people were losing their lives, and when that guy ran out of ammo, he took it from him, but he was hit. We pray that God saves him.”
Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Prime Minister, mentioned al-Ahmed at a press conference, paying tribute to his actions as an example of “Australians coming together”.
“Ahmed al-Ahmed took the gun off that perpetrator at great risk to himself and suffered serious injury as a result,” Albanese said.
Chris Minns, the New South Wales Premier, called al-Ahmed “a genuine hero”, saying the video footage was “the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen”.
Minns visited al-Ahmed in hospital “to pass on the thanks of people across NSW”.
Donald Trump, the US President, also praised the hero, calling him “a very, very brave person” who saved many lives.
Alkanj said he underwent surgery and faced two to three more procedures at St George Hospital in Kogarah.
Outside the hospital, strangers arrived to show their support. Misha and Veronica Pochuev brought their 7-year-old daughter, Miroslava, to drop off flowers.
Miroslava held a bouquet with a note reading “To Ahmed: for courage and saved lives”.
Lubaba Alhmidi AlKahil, media director for the Australians for Syria Association, visited al-Ahmed with food and flowers.
“What he did, he really is a superhero,” she said. “The community is very proud of him.”
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