SYDNEY December 15, 2025 – A local fruit shop owner has emerged as a national hero after dramatic video footage captured him tackling and disarming one of the gunmen during Sunday’s terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, which killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two from Sutherland who runs a fruit shop, was shot twice during his brave intervention but is expected to recover following surgery. His cousin, Mustafa, described him to 7NEWS as having no experience with firearms yet instinctively stepping in when he witnessed the chaos.
The viral video shows al-Ahmed, wearing a white shirt, sprinting from behind a vehicle to ambush a gunman in dark clothing who was firing a rifle. He wrestles the weapon away, briefly aims it at the attacker—who stumbles backward toward a nearby bridge where a second shooter was positioned—before lowering the gun to the ground.
“We hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 percent,” Mustafa said outside the hospital.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised al-Ahmed and others who intervened, stating at a press conference: “These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives.” He described individuals who “ran towards danger in order to help others” as embodying the nation’s spirit.
The attack targeted the “Chanukah by the Sea” event organized by Chabad of Bondi, marking the first night of Hanukkah. Authorities have declared it a terrorist incident aimed at the Jewish community, with one gunman killed by police and another in critical condition.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called al-Ahmed a “genuine hero,” adding that his actions undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. International leaders, including from Saudi Arabia, have condemned the violence and extended condolences.
Investigations continue into the motives and any additional suspects.
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