A heroic shopkeeper tackled and disarmed one of the terrorists who opened fire on a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration in Australia Sunday.
Video captured the moment that good Samaritan Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, wearing a white shirt, sneaked up behind the shotgun-wielding gunman and wrestled the weapon away from him.
Ahmed, who owns a local fruit stall, then points the weapon at the terrorist, who falls to the ground before scampering away.
He was shot twice in the arm by the second terrorist during his heroic actions, and was taken to a hospital for surgery, according to a relative.
“He’s in [the] hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside. We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero, 100 percent,” his cousin, named only as Mustafa, told Australian outlet 7News.
Later video showed him bloodied but conscious, being treated at the scene for his injuries.
Ahmed’s actions are all the more extraordinary given the fact that he allegedly had no experience with weapons before Sunday’s shooting, according to his family.Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Ahmed’s actions at his Sunday cabinet meeting.
“We saw the actions of a brave man… a brave Muslim, and I salute him for stopping one of the terrorists from killing innocent Jews,” he said, as reported by the Times of Israel.
His words were echoed by politicians in Australia, where the Prime Minister called those who helped “heroes,” without directly referencing al-Ahmed.
Lefty PM Anthony Albanese paid tribute to everyday Australians who, without hesitating, put themselves in danger in order to keep their fellow Australians safe,” adding that, “These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives.”
“The most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen,” said Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, the state that includes Sydney.
That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery
At least 16 people were killed, including children, and 29 were injured after two terrorists opened fire at the Chanukah by the Sea event on the famed Sydney beach.
One of the attackers was killed and the other is in custody following the onslaught that lasted at least 10 minutes before the terrorists were taken down.
Some 2,000 people had gathered on the beach for the event, put on by the nearby Chabad Bondi, to mark the first day of Hanukkah.
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