The parents of Ahmed al Ahmed, the man credited with disarming one of the attackers during the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, have spoken of their pride and relief following their son’s courageous actions.
In an interview with CBS News published on Monday, Dec 15, Ahmed’s parents said they were terrified when they first learned that their 43-year-old son had been caught up in the attack, which claimed at least 15 lives. The couple, who arrived in Sydney from Syria just two months ago, said their fear later turned into immense pride.
“My son is a hero,” his father, Mohammad Fatih Al-Ahmed, told CBS News. He said Ahmed, who previously served with the police, acted instinctively to protect others when he saw victims lying injured on the ground. According to him, Ahmed confronted one of the gunmen, managed to wrestle away his weapon, and forced the attacker to flee. A second assailant then shot Ahmed in the shoulder from a distance.
Ahmed’s mother said she was initially overwhelmed with worry when she heard her son had been hospitalised. “You know how a mother feels when she hears that her son is involved in an incident,” she said. “But when I learned what he had done, I felt very proud that he was helping people and saving lives.”
Ahmed sustained gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hand and remains in hospital after undergoing surgery. A fruit shop owner and father of two young daughters, he has since been widely praised for his bravery.
“There isn’t a news agency that hasn’t shown what he did,” his father said, adding that Ahmed has received messages of thanks from leaders around the world, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “He sacrificed himself to save others.”
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also commended Ahmed, describing him as a “real-life hero” whose actions likely prevented further loss of life. Minns shared a photo of himself visiting Ahmed in hospital, saying many more people could have died without his selfless courage.
The shooting occurred at about 6.47pm on Sunday, Dec 14, when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd gathered at Archer Park, Bondi Beach. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, and at least 40 others were injured in the attack.
