A Sydney man who was filmed wrestling a rifle from one of the alleged attackers during the mass shooting at Bondi Beach is recovering in hospital after surgery for gunshot wounds, as a fundraising campaign for his family surged and political leaders in Australia vowed to tighten firearms rules in the wake of the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.
The man, identified as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, was named by relatives and widely identified online as the bystander who took cover behind parked vehicles before charging the gunman from behind, seizing the weapon and knocking him to the ground.
Reuters reported that Ahmed’s cousin, Jozay Alkanji, said outside St George Hospital in Sydney that the first operation had been completed and more procedures were expected, describing a series of surgeries that would depend on doctors’ assessments. “He’s done the first surgery,” Alkanji said. “I think he’s got two or three surgeries, that depend on the doctor, what he says.”
Police say the attack unfolded on Sunday afternoon at a Jewish celebration on Bondi Beach, a popular stretch of sand in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where crowds had gathered during a community event marking Hanukkah. Authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack and an antisemitic act, coming amid heightened concern about antisemitism in Australia since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.
According to Reuters, investigators allege the shooting was carried out by a father and son, aged 50 and 24, and left 15 people dead. In a separate Reuters report, police said the older suspect was killed at the scene, bringing the death toll to 16, and that the younger suspect was in critical condition in hospital. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, officials said, and dozens of people were treated in hospitals, including injured police officers.
Details of the chaos on the beach have continued to emerge through witness accounts and official briefings. The Associated Press said the Hanukkah celebration had included family activities such as face painting and a petting zoo before gunfire erupted and panic swept through the crowd. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack in stark terms, saying: “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, associated with celebrations.”
While authorities have withheld the suspects’ names, Reuters reported that security officials said one of the alleged attackers was known to authorities but had not been deemed an immediate threat. Police said they were still working through background information on both men. National broadcaster ABC and other outlets identified the suspects, and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke provided immigration background details in comments carried by Reuters, though police have not publicly confirmed identities.
Against that backdrop, Ahmed’s intervention has become a focal point for public grief and gratitude, particularly after footage circulated online showing him moving in on the gunman and forcing the weapon away. Reuters reported tributes poured in from leaders in Australia and abroad. U.S. President Donald Trump called Ahmed “a very, very brave person” and said he saved many lives. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns hailed him as “a genuine hero” and described the video as “the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen.”
Outside St George Hospital in Kogarah, Reuters described strangers arriving to offer support, including families bringing flowers. The public response also moved quickly online, where a GoFundMe set up to support Ahmed and his family raised more than A$200,000 within hours, Reuters said, as donations continued to build.
Among the largest donations was a contribution of A$99,999 from U.S. hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, according to Reuters, which said he shared the fundraiser on his X account. The scale of the donation, and the speed with which the broader fundraiser grew, intensified attention on Ahmed’s recovery and the circumstances that placed him in the path of gunfire.
Other outlets have reported additional background about Ahmed as admiration for his actions spread beyond Sydney. The Financial Times described him as a Sydney fruit shop owner who migrated from Syria and was at Bondi Beach to meet a friend when the attack began. The Guardian reported that relatives said he acted out of conscience, unable to watch people being shot without trying to intervene, and that his family expressed pride and relief as he stabilised after surgery.
As the country mourns, the attack has also triggered renewed scrutiny of Australian gun laws, which are often cited as among the strictest in the world since reforms introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. In the Reuters report on the government response, Albanese said cabinet agreed to strengthen gun laws and work on a national firearms register, including reviewing the number of weapons permitted under licences and how long licences remain valid. “People’s circumstances can change,” Albanese said. “People can be radicalised over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity.”
Reuters reported police said the older suspect had held a firearms licence since 2015 and had six registered weapons, raising political questions about oversight and the monitoring of licence holders. The same report said measures under consideration included curbs on open-ended licences and possible limits on how many weapons a person can hold, as well as reviews of the types of firearms and modifications that should be legal.
In the days after the shooting, stories of victims have begun to surface through families and community groups, though Australian authorities have not publicly released an official list of names. The Associated Press reported that Chabad, the Orthodox Jewish movement that sponsors events during major holidays, identified one of the dead as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organiser of the gathering. The AP also reported that Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of an Israeli citizen, and that French President Emmanuel Macron said a French citizen was among those killed.
For many Australians, the image of a bystander rushing a gunman has become entwined with the broader shock of an attack carried out in a place associated with leisure and family outings. Minns, speaking of the video, framed the moment as almost beyond belief.
Ahmed remains in hospital undergoing treatment for wounds to his arm and hand, Reuters reported, as relatives prepared for further surgeries and supporters continued to gather outside.