Ahmad al-Ahmad, a local shopkeeper who displayed extraordinary bravery during a bloody shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been hospitalized. He gained worldwide attention for seizing one of the attackers' weapons and saving many lives.
According to family members, 43-year-old Ahmad al-Ahmad was shot twice. He suffered serious injuries to his shoulder and palm of his hand and underwent surgery at the hospital. Currently, his condition is stable, and doctors are keeping the situation under control.
Videos circulating on social media captured the initial moments of the shooting. In the footage, Ahmad al-Ahmad first hid behind cars, and then unnoticed approached the person who was shooting, knocked him to the ground, and took his weapon away. With this action, he saved the lives of thousands of people gathered on the beach.
Australian police have not yet clarified what weapon the attackers used. It was reported that the attack occurred during the celebration of the Jewish Hanuka holiday on the famous Bondi Beach beach in Sydney. The incident was carried out by a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. The father died at the scene, and the son was hospitalized in critical condition. The death toll has risen to 15, marking the largest mass murder in Australian history in the last 30 years.
Ahmad al-Ahmad is the father of two children, running a fruit and vegetable store in Sydney. His cousin, Mustafa, told 7News Australia that doctors reported his condition was stable after the surgery.
"He is a one hundred percent hero. Thanks to his courage, many people survived on this day. We are still waiting for complete information, but we hope that he will recover soon," Mustafa said.
Ahmad al-Ahmad's bravery was also highly praised internationally. US President Donald Trump called him a "very, very brave man" and emphasized that many lives were saved thanks to his actions. New South Wales Prime Minister Chris Minnes called him a "real hero" and rated the video as one of the most incredible scenes he's ever seen.
Within the framework of the GoFundMe charity campaign launched to support Ahmad al-Ahmad, more than $300,000 was raised within a few hours. Billionaire Bill Ekman made the largest donation, allocating 99,999 Australian dollars and sharing the campaign link on social media.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaneze also commented on the incident, emphasizing that ordinary people can risk their lives to save others in difficult situations.
This tragedy in Bondi Beach reminded the world once again of one truth: heroism is not always about form or position; sometimes it manifests itself in the momentary courage of an ordinary shopkeeper.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
