Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described Ahmed Al Ahmed - the man who managed to neutralize one of the attackers during the bloody incident on Sydney's Bondi Beach - as a national hero. According to him, the 43-year-old man's act is a shining example of human valor and civic courage, DPA reports, BTA reports.
After visiting the hospital where Al Ahmed is being treated, the Prime Minister told the media that he is a “true Australian hero“. Albanese stressed that the Syrian-born man showed humility and determination at a critical moment, and his courage served as an inspiration to the entire community.
A video clip shared online shows Al Ahmed approaching one of the two attackers from behind and forcibly taking his weapon away. As a result of the confrontation, he was shot in the shoulder. He is expected to undergo additional surgery, Albanese said.
The prime minister also said that Al Ahmed was on the beach with friends and relatives when he suddenly witnessed people being shot in front of him. Albanese added that he had also met with the victim's parents, who are visiting Australia, and noted that they were extremely proud of their son's actions.
Local media reported that other citizens also showed extraordinary courage during the attack. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that dashcam footage showed a couple trying to stop the same attacker as he emerged from a vehicle armed with a gun. According to the publication, the pair managed to force him to the ground and knock the gun out of his hands. Drone footage later showed their bodies lying side by side. The identities of these people have not been officially announced.
The Guardian newspaper also reported a video showing a man throwing objects at the attacker after he had been subdued. The man's daughter identified her father in the footage and confirmed that he was among the dead.
Australian authorities had earlier described the Bondi Beach attack, which killed 15 people and injured 42, as a terrorist act influenced by the extremist group "Islamic State".