The man who bravely disarmed one of the gunmen responsible for killing 15 people at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach has shared what went through his mind during the terrifying attack.
Verified footage shows Ahmed al Ahmed, a Sydney shop owner originally from Syria, tackling one of the shooters from behind and wrestling a long-arm weapon from him.
“I held him with my right hand and warned him to drop the gun and stop what he was doing,” he told CBS News in an exclusive interview.
Although Ahmed was shot multiple times by the second gunman, he believes his actions saved many lives. “I saved lots of people… but I still feel sorry for the lives lost,” he said.
“I Just Wanted to Stop Innocent People From Being Killed”
Ahmed described tackling 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who was firing at attendees of a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, 14 December.
“My goal was to take the gun from him and stop him from killing innocent people.”
Australia declared the attack a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community, calling it the deadliest mass shooting since 1996. Fifteen people were killed, and 40 others were injured.
Akram was shot dead by police. His son Naveed, the second suspected gunman, was hospitalized and has now been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist attack.
“I Didn’t Want to See People Die in Front of Me”
Ahmed shared the emotions that fueled his bravery.
“I didn’t want to see people killed in front of me. I didn’t want to hear gunshots or see people screaming and begging for help,” he said. “That was my soul pushing me to act.”
Community Raises Millions as Leaders Praise “Real-Life Hero”
Following the attack, tens of thousands of community members donated to support Ahmed, raising A$2.5 million (US$1.7m) while he recovered in hospital after undergoing multiple surgeries for shoulder gunshot wounds.
Suggested read: When did Bondi Beach shooter Sajid Akram move to Australia, how many times did he visit India?
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited him in hospital, calling him “the best of our country”, while New South Wales Premier Chris Minns praised him as a real-life hero.
Ahmed’s parents told BBC Arabic they were not surprised by his actions. “He was driven by conscience, humanity, and compassion,” they said.
