Bondi Hero Aims to Stop Shooter from Killing Innocent People

Bondi Hero Discusses His Courage

The man who disarmed one of the attackers responsible for the deaths of 15 people at a Jewish event on Bondi Beach has shared his thoughts leading up to his heroic actions.

In a verified video report, Ahmed al Ahmed—a shop owner from Sydney, originally from Syria—described how he bravely tackled one of the two gunmen from behind, fighting to take away the automatic weapon. "I grabbed him with my right hand and started to say something to him, you know, to warn him - 'put down your weapon, stop what you are doing','" the father of two told CBS News in an exclusive interview.

Mr. Ahmed, who was shot multiple times by the other attacker, said his actions saved "many lives... but I still feel sorry for those lost." In the interview, he recounted the moment he confronted Sajid Akram, 50, who was firing at attendees during a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 14. "My goal was just to take his weapon and stop him from killing innocent people’s lives."

During the attack, 15 people died—the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since 1996—and another 40 were injured. Police declared the attack a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community. Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police, while his son, Naveed, the other attacker who was hospitalized after the incident, was later charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist attack.

Ahmed described the thoughts that crossed his mind before taking action, which authorities and politicians stated saved countless lives. "Emotionally, I do something, I feel a power in my body, in my mind," Ahmed said. "I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to see blood, I don’t want to hear his weapon, I don’t want to see people screaming and pleading for help. That is my soul urging me to do this."

In the days following the shooting, Mr. Ahmed received a cheque worth 2.5 million Australian dollars at his hospital bedside, raised by tens of thousands of community members impressed by his actions. He was shot multiple times in the shoulder after attacking Sajid Akram and required at least three surgeries. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Ahmed in the hospital, describing him as "the best among us," while the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, called him "a real-life hero." For their part, Ahmed’s parents told BBC Arabic that their son was "driven by feelings, conscience, and humanity."