BONDI BEACH, AUSTRALIA, 15 Dec. - (ANA) - A Muslim bystander captured on video tackling and disarming an armed man who opened fire and killed 12 people at a Jewish holiday event at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday has been hailed as a hero.

 

The man, identified as Sydney local Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two, was taken to the hospital after being shot twice in the incident.

 

Footage circulating on social media shows him in a car park wearing a white shirt, before he runs up to a man in a dark shirt who is holding a rifle. He then tackles the armed man from behind, wrenching the rifle from him with his hands before pointing the gun back at him.

 

Footage then shows the man in a dark shirt losing his footing, backing away towards a bridge where another shooter was located, while the al-Ahmed places the gun down on the ground.

 

Al-Ahmed's cousin, Mustafa, confirmed it was him, in comments made to reporters outside the hospital. Mustafa said his cousin is a fruit shop owner in Sutherland and has no experience with guns, and was just walking past when he decided to confront the shooter.

 

The Reuters news agency confirmed the account and footage circulating on social media. 

 

One suspected gunman was killed, and another was in a critical condition following the shooting, and police said they were investigating whether a third gunman was involved.

 

The footage of the bystander's actions spread quickly on social media, with people praising the man for his bravery and saying he had potentially saved many lives.

 

"The hero who disarmed the attacker at Bondi Beach in Australia is a 43-year-old Muslim named Ahmed al Ahmed. His act of bravery saved countless lives today," one person said on the X platform, sharing the video.

 

The brave man who disarmed one of the Bondi Beach shooters is Ahmed al Ahmed.

 

He is a 43-year-old Muslim shopkeeper from Sydney and a married father of two.

 

"Before you start with your filthy racism on Muslims, say hello to Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43 years old Muslim citizen from Australia, who tackled and disarmed one of the Bondi Beach gunmen. A hero," another wrote.

 

"This Australian man saved countless lives by stripping the gun off one of the terrorists at Bondi beach. HERO," another said.

 

Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales state, where Sydney is located, said it was the "most unbelievable scene I've ever seen".

 

"A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people."

 

"That man is a genuine hero, and I've got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery."

 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the actions of Australians who had "run towards danger in order to help others".

 

"These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives," he told a press conference. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/15 December 2025 - - -