December 15, 2025 | 10:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Donald Trump praised Ahmed al-Ahmed, a civilian who bravely intervened during the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, potentially saving many lives. The attack targeted a Hanukkah celebration and left at least 15 people dead.
“And in Australia you probably read, it’s been it’s been a very, very brave person actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters and saved a lot of lives,” Trump said, as reported by Al Arabiya.
While Trump did not mention al-Ahmed by name, his comments referred to a viral video showing the 43-year-old Syrian-born man tackling one of the shooters from behind and taking his weapon.
“So very brave person who’s right now in the hospital pretty seriously wounded. So I, great respect to that man that did that,” Trump added.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited al-Ahmed in the hospital, posting a photo of himself at the end of the bed as they spoke. One of al-Ahmed’s arms appeared to be in a cast.
“Ahmed is a real-life hero. Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” Minns wrote on Monday, as reported by Al Jazeera.
“There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed's selfless courage.”
Shot Multiple Times
Al-Ahmed’s parents said their son was shot four to five times during the incident.
“He saw they were dying, and people were losing their lives, and when that guy (the shooter) ran out of ammo, he (Ahmed) took it from him, but he was hit,” said his mother, Malakeh Hasan Al-Ahmed, in an interview with ABC Australia, cited by Anadolu.
Al-Ahmed was hit in his shoulder, with some bullets still lodged in his body, his parents said. His father, Mohamed Fateh Al-Ahmed, praised his son’s courage.
“When he did what he did, he wasn't thinking about the background of the people he's saving, the people dying in the street,” he said.
Background
Ahmed al-Ahmed moved to Australia in 2006 from al-Nayrab, Idlib province, Syria. He is now an Australian citizen and works as a fruit seller. He is a father of two daughters, aged three and six, and has been separated from his parents since moving to Australia.
According to his family, Ahmed “would do anything to protect anyone, regardless of their background or beliefs.”
“He doesn't discriminate between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there's no difference between one citizen and another,” they said, hailing him as a hero.
On the night of the attack, al-Ahmed was having coffee with a friend near Bondi Beach when they heard gunfire. Video footage shows him running toward one of the shooters, pouncing, and disarming him—a moment that quickly went viral, viewed by millions worldwide.
Ongoing Treatment and Support
Al-Ahmed’s cousin, Hozay Alkanj, said he has successfully undergone one operation and may require two or three more depending on his recovery. A crowdfunding campaign created in his name has raised over $1 million in donations.
Australian police confirmed that civilian intervention, including al-Ahmed’s actions, helped prevent further loss of life. The investigation into the attack, carried out by a father and son duo, continues. One shooter was killed at the scene, while the other remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Read: Ahmed Al Ahmed Hailed as Hero in Deadly Bondi Beach Shooting
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