Politics
Hero Bystander Who Disarmed Bondi Beach Terrorist Identified
The bystander who heroically tackled one of the gunmen who indiscriminately opened fire on a Hanukah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach has been identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed, a fruit shop owner who was on the scene.
The shooting, classified as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community, unfolded during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, attended by over 1,000 people on the first night of the holiday.
The attack began shortly after 6:30 p.m. local time. Eyewitness accounts describe hearing initial “pops,” initially mistaken for firecrackers, followed by sustained gunfire. Two gunmen, armed with semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, positioned themselves on a footbridge connecting Campbell Parade and Archer Park, adjacent to the event site near a playground and restaurants in North Bondi.
One gunman, dressed in dark clothing, remained elevated on the bridge, firing almost continuously toward the crowd in Archer Park. He paused only to reload and briefly descended the stairs for less than 10 seconds before returning to his position, where he threatened bystanders who approached too closely on Campbell Parade.
At one point during the attack — which continued for more than 10 minutes before the shooters were neutralized — the other gunman crossed the bridge and advanced toward a tree approximately 30 meters from the gathering. He then proceeded to fire at people fleeing the area.
Al-Ahmed, a Sydney fruit shop owner of Lebanese descent, was in the area at the time of the attack. Video footage captured from a building overlooking the scene shows al-Ahmed crouching behind a parked car while the gunman, who had his back turned, continued to fire.
The bystander then charged the gunman before tackling him from behind and wrestling the weapon away from him. Al-Ahmed then aimed the weapon at the terrorist briefly before placing it down and walking towards police as they closed in on the bridge.
The terrorist on the bridge continued to fire, striking al-Ahmed once in the shoulder and again in the hand, which required surgery.
Police were then able to neutralize the attackers after a brief exchange of fire. One of the attackers was killed in the attack while another remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Bondi Beach, appears that a bystander rushed one of the shooters and disarmed them. pic.twitter.com/iphfol8X0u
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) December 14, 2025
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described al-Ahmed as a “genuine hero,” adding “I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”
The attack claimed 11 lives, including British-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, a father of five; an Israeli citizen; and one police officer who died while responding. Among the 29 hospitalized were a child and two additional officers injured in the line of duty, with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to trauma from the evacuation. Authorities confirmed 24 to 29 total injuries total.
Australian police identified one gunman as Naveed Akram, a local resident with limited prior contact with law enforcement. The deceased attacker was linked to an improvised explosive device found in a nearby vehicle.
The second suspect remains unidentified publicly but was known to security services without posing an immediate threat.
“The person that we know has very, very little knowledge to the police,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said during a press conference. Police have classified the incident as an act of terrorism and continue to investigate any links to extremist groups or other accomplices.
