Sydney shop owner Ahmed Al Ahmed tackled a gunman during the Bondi Beach atrocity – and has now revealed how he found the strength to intervene despite the terror around him
The Bondi Beach hero who tackled a gunman during the bloodbath terror attack said he felt he had to act to save more people from being killed.
Footage of Sydney shop owner Ahmed Al Ahmed wrestling a rifle from Sajid Akram before being wounded himself went viral worldwide.
The atrocity claimed the lives of 15 innocents and dozens more were injured when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 celebrating Hanukkah in Bondi’s Archer Park on December 14.
One alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, faces 59 charges, while his father, Sajid, was shot dead by police at the scene.
In an interview with CBS yesterday (Mon), Mr Ahmed, who was shot four times after intervening, said he just wanted to save more lives.
He explained: “My target was just to take the gun from him, and to stop him from killing a human being’s life and not killing innocent people. I know I saved lots, but I feel sorry for the lost.”
He also described the moment he pounced on the attacker to wrestle the firearm away.
Mr Ahmed: “I jumped on his back, hit him. I hold him with my right hand and start saying a word, you know, like to warn him, drop your gun, stop doing what you’re doing, and it’s come all in fast.
“And emotionally, I’m doing something, which is I feel something, a power in my body, my brain.
“I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to hear his gun, I don’t want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help, and that’s my soul asking me to do that.”
Mr Ahmed’s parents told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he had been shot four to five times in the shoulder.
More than 40,000 people raised 2.5 million Australian dollars (£1.2 million) in a GoFundMe fundraiser for the 43-year-old, with donations from comedian Amy Schumer and billionaire Bill Ackman.
The cheque was presented at his hospital bed by co-organiser Zachery Dereniowski.
Before Christmas, Australia announced it would establish an award for those like Mr Ahmed who confronted “the worst of evil” during the attack.