Bondi Beach hero Ahmed says he acted to save 'innocent people'

Ahmed Al Ahmed, the man who bravely disarmed a shooter during the December 14 Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, said his sole aim was to stop the gunman from killing innocent people. In an interview with CBS News, the Syrian-born Australian recounted the moments when he tackled the assailant, describing an overwhelming instinct to protect those around him.

Acting on Instinct to Save Lives

“My target was just to take the gun from him and to stop him from killing innocent people,” Ahmed said. He explained that he “jumped” on the shooter’s back and struggled to remove the weapon while shouting at him to stop. “I didn’t worry about anything,” he added, “except for the lives I could potentially save.” Ahmed, who was shot four to five times in the left shoulder during the confrontation, is recovering at Sydney’s St. George Hospital.

Emotional and Physical Resolve

Ahmed recalled feeling a powerful surge of determination during the attack. “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,” he said. He expressed sorrow for the lives lost but acknowledged that his actions likely saved many others.

National and Global Recognition

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Ahmed as representing “the best of our country.” The Bondi Beach shooting, which police labeled a terrorist attack, left 15 dead and 42 injured after a man and his son opened fire on the beach. One shooter was killed and the other critically injured. Ahmed’s courage has drawn international admiration and highlighted the role of bystanders in responding to acts of violence.