A man who disarmed one of the gunmen in the deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach is being praised for his actions and for saving lives.
A clip broadcast on Australian television and shared on social media shows an unarmed man walking up behind one of the suspected gunmen, who was firing a long gun, then grabbing him around the neck. The civilian appears to wrestle the gun from the shooter, who falls to the ground before walking away. The man then points the gun at the alleged shooter and raises his hand in the air.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns on Sunday called the scene “the most unbelievable” he’s ever seen. “A man walking up to a gunman, who had fired on the community, and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people — that man is a genuine hero,” Minns said during a press conference. “And I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
Several news reports identified the man as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner; NPR has not independently verified the identity. A relative told Australia’s 7News that Ahmed was shot twice and is in the hospital.
Gunmen killed at least 15 people in the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, according to authorities. At least 42 people have been hospitalized. Other video filmed by onlookers and posted on social media appeared to show two gunmen with long guns firing from a footbridge leading to the beach.