Australian authorities revealed that Ahmed’s parents arrived from Syria just a few months ago
The man who fought with one of the attackers during the Bondi Beach shooting was identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, whose refugee parents had just arrived from Syria, according to media reports and Australian authorities.
Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two daughters, risked his life by attacking one of the shooters, managing to seize the gun during Sunday’s attack.
Ahmed was later shot by one of two gunmen, a father-son duo whose beach violence, which targeted a group of Jews and beachgoers, killed at least 15 people and injured dozens of others.
The dramatic images of the confrontation, which have been viewed millions of times on social media, show Ahmed crouching behind a car and then lunging at the gunman who had just fired his weapon. Sirens sounded and shots were fired as the two men struggled for several seconds, before Ahmed wrestled the gun from the attacker’s hands.
Ahmed then pointed the gun at the attacker, who retreated.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke identified and praised Ahmed as the “passerby” who risked his life, during a press conference led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this Monday.
“All Australians came together against this attack — the police who were there came together against the attackers, the first responders came together against the attackers, and even a passerby like Ahmed Al Ahmed stood there, risking his life against those attackers,” Burke said.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns meets with Ahmed al Ahmed, who is recovering in hospital from injuries he suffered in the attack. (Chris Minns Facebook)
This Monday, the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, published a photo of Ahmed recovering from his injuries in hospital. “Ahmed is a real-life hero. Last night, his incredible courage undoubtedly saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” Minns wrote on Facebook.
“It was an honor to spend some time with him just now and pass on the thanks of people across New South Wales. There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if it were not for Ahmed’s selfless courage. Thank you, Ahmed.”
Ahmed’s parents said he was shot several times in the shoulder, with some of the bullets still lodged in his body, according to national broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
They had just moved to Sydney from Syria several months ago, although their son arrived in Australia in 2006, they told the ABC. It is not yet known whether the family is Syrian or of another nationality.
The parents added that Ahmed has two daughters, aged three and six, and that he would have done anything to protect anyone.
“When he did what he did, he wasn’t thinking about the origin of the people he was saving, the people who were dying in the street,” said Ahmed’s father. “It doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there is no difference between one citizen and another.”
Outside St. George Hospital, Ahmed’s cousin, Mustafa, told 7News that his family member was doing well but had not yet undergone surgery.
“He is a hero, absolutely. Because he could lose his life for saving other people,” Mustafa told the same channel.
