Bondi Beach Attack: Hero Who Disarmed Gunman Misidentified Online After Shooting Incident

Last Updated:December 15, 2025, 19:10 IST

Ahmed Al Ahmed, who confronted and disarmed one of the attackers at Bondi Beach, is not a fruit seller from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, as claimed online.

Ahmed al Ahmed, who bravely disarmed Sajid Akram during the Bondi Hanukkah shooting that killed 15. Ahmed is hospitalised after being shot. (Image: X)

After the mass shooting in Australia, a video clip spread rapidly across social media, showing a man charging from behind, locking his arms around a gunman and forcing the weapon from his grip as shots rang out at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

The dramatic act quickly turned the man into a national hero. His name, Ahmed Al Ahmed, was widely shared, along with incorrect information about his identity.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, 42, who confronted and disarmed one of the attackers during Sunday night’s antisemitic assault on a Jewish gathering at Bondi, is not a fruit seller from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, despite early online claims.

Authorities and family members have clarified that he owns and runs a tobacco and speciality convenience store, which he has operated since 2021.

The mix-up gained traction as Australians looked for ways to thank the man whose actions are believed to have prevented further bloodshed.

Messages of support and praise were mistakenly directed to a fruit shop in southern Sydney, after it was wrongly linked to Al Ahmed.

The business, Sutherland Best Fresh, moved swiftly to address the confusion.

“Heartbreaking to see this tragedy unfold in Bondi," the owners said in a Facebook post on Monday.

“There has been a misunderstanding about the location of this great Australian hero’s shop. We do not know Ahmed and are not connected to him. We congratulate him on his bravery and wish him a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with everyone affected."

By then, Al Ahmed was recovering in hospital after being shot twice during the confrontation. Footage of his intervention, widely aired by Australian and international media outlets, is being credited with saving lives during the chaos.

The Moment At Bondi Beach

The attack unfolded shortly after 6:45 pm local time on Sunday, as thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach at the close of a summer day.

Among the crowd were hundreds attending Chanukah by the Sea, a public event marking the start of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah in a park near the beachfront.

Witnesses told police that two gunmen opened fire from an elevated footbridge leading toward the beach.

Videos captured beachgoers fleeing across the sand as gunshots echoed, with the assault lasting around 10 minutes before police intervened.

It was amid this turmoil that Al Ahmed, who had gone to Bondi with a friend for coffee, came face to face with one of the attackers.

Speaking to Australia’s ABC, his father, Mohamed Fateh Al Ahmed, said his son and his friend were stunned when they realised armed men were firing into the crowd.

“They were suddenly in danger themselves," he said. “He noticed one of the gunmen nearby."

According to the family, Al Ahmed saw people lying injured on the ground, some bleeding heavily. At that point, his father said, instinct and conscience took over.

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