The 43-year-old fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed tackled and disarmed one of two gunmen who attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Authorities say the father-and-son attackers killed at least 15 people; the 50-year-old assailant was killed and the 24-year-old son is in serious condition. Al Ahmed reportedly suffered two gunshot wounds and has been widely praised by the public and senior officials. Video of the confrontation on Campbell Parade has gone viral and investigators continue to probe the attack.
Fruit Seller Disarms Bondi Beach Gunman, Hailed as a Hero After Deadly Hanukkah Attack
Police officers stand guard at a cordoned zone following the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. / Credit: Brent Lewin / Bloomberg via Getty Images
A fruit shop owner who risked his life to disarm one of the attackers during a reported antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach is being praised as a hero.
Authorities say two gunmen — a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son — opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration near Sydney's iconic shoreline, killing at least 15 people and wounding many others. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the 50-year-old attacker was killed and the 24-year-old was hospitalized in "serious condition."
In the aftermath, bystander video circulating on social media shows a man crouched behind a parked car on Campbell Parade, the main street running parallel to Bondi Beach. One clip captures him leaping up and tackling a suspect moments after that attacker fired toward an area outside the frame.
Local media identified the man as 43-year-old fruit seller Ahmed al Ahmed. The footage shows al Ahmed wrestle the firearm away and point it at the gunman, who then retreats. 7News reported that al Ahmed sustained two gunshot wounds during the confrontation and was taken to hospital.
Speaking to reporters, a relative who identified himself as Mustapha said: "He's in hospital and we don't know exactly what's going on inside. We do hope he will be fine. He's a hero 100%."
The dramatic footage has been widely shared online, with many users crediting al Ahmed's quick thinking for likely saving lives. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described al Ahmed as a "genuine hero," saying, "In all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger."
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House event, also praised the man's actions, saying the intervention "saved a lot of lives" and reaffirming that the individual was "pretty seriously wounded" in hospital.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive and circumstances of the attack. Hospital and law enforcement officials have not released further health updates on al Ahmed at the time of reporting.
