‘Put up a statue of him’: Netizens praise unsung Muslim hero who disarmed Bondi Beach shooter

The attack on Bondi Beach which occurred over the weekend saw gunmen open fire on crowds gathered on the beach to celebrate Hanukkah. Despite the terror many likely felt in the situation, there were still some heroic who boldly stepped in to protect the people, one of those heroes is Ahmed al Ahmed.

At the time of writing, 15 people have been confirmed dead with 27 admitted to hospital after at least two gunmen arrived at the beach in what’s believed to be a targeted attack on Australia’s Jewish community. Victims of the crime ranged in age between 10 and 87 years old, with at least one of the deceased being a Holocaust survivor who was attending the celebration with his wife.

The two gunmen were identified by Australian authorities as a father and son duo, Safjid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, Naveed is currently in hospital in critical condition. Despite the danger they posed, one man was bold enough to approach one of the attackers and try to disarm him. The whole interaction was even caught on video.

Praise for Ahmed al Ahmed

There was a great deal of praise for a local fruit shop owner called Ahmed after he took it upon himself to try and stop one of the gunmen’s rampage. Footage of the incident shows Ahmed, 43, running towards one of the men who is carrying a gun before he begins wrestling with the individual before ultimately prying the weapon from the man’s grip.

After he gets the gun Ahmed then turns it on the attacker who promptly flees. However, Ahmed himself was shot during the altercation and had to undergo surgery for his injuries, currently he is resting in hospital, recovering from his injuries. Speaking to the BBC, his father said, “Ahmed was driven by his sentiment, conscience and humanity.”

Since the attack many online have been commending the man whose heroic actions no doubt saved some lives. “Put up a statue of him on Bondi Beach now.” Suggested one person, another wrote that Ahmed’s actions were, “An extraordinary act of courage,” while a third added, “Ahmed El Ahmed is a perfect example of the true spirit of Islam.”

The New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns even paid Ahmed a visit in the hospital, sharing a picture of him sitting next to the bedbound man. “Ahmed is a real-life hero.” Minns wrote, “his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk.”