Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits Ahmed al-Ahmed in hospital.Image: keystone
December 29, 2025, 1:34 p.mDecember 29, 2025, 1:34 p.m
His courage has impressed people around the world: Ahmed al-Ahmed disarmed one of the attackers in the deadly terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14th and was himself shot twice in the left arm.
The footage of his courageous intervention was viewed millions of times online. Now the 44-year-old has spoken publicly for the first time: “My soul made me do this,” al-Ahmed told the US broadcaster CBS.
Video: watson/hanna dedial
“I didn’t want to see people die.”
He quickly decided to grab one of the perpetrators from behind and grab his weapon. “Everything in my heart and my brain worked together to save people’s lives,” he emphasized, adding: “I felt something, a power in my body, in my brain, and I didn’t want to see people being killed in front of my eyes. I didn’t want to see blood, I didn’t want to hear his gun; I didn’t want to see people screaming and begging and calling for help.”
“I just wanted to take the gun away from him and stop him from killing innocent people.”
Ahmed al-Ahmed.
According to the Australian broadcaster ABC, al-Ahmed – who comes from Syria and is now an Australian citizen – had to undergo multiple operations because of his injuries. In the attack on a Jewish festival on the world-famous Bondi Beach in Sydney, 16 people died, including one perpetrator.
Fundraising campaign brings in millions
The father of the family, al-Ahmed, was near the beach with a friend when the attack on visitors to a Hanukkah festival began. Despite his injuries, he remained focused on stopping the 50-year-old perpetrator – the father of the second attacker. He didn’t think much about it, explained al-Ahmed. “I just wanted to take the gun away from him and stop him from killing innocent people.”
His intervention forced the shooter to retreat without injuring anyone else. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described al-Ahmed as a role model for all Australians. British King Charles and US President Donald Trump also praised his bravery. A fundraiser for his recovery has so far raised more than 2.6 million Australian dollars (1.38 million Swiss francs). (sda/dpa)
Video: watson/hanna dedial