The Bondi Beach Massacre and the heroism of Ahmed al-Ahmed

Spectator World ^ | 12/16/2025 | Terry Barnes

[SeekAndFind]

As the appalling story of Sunday’s anti-Jewish mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach continue to unfold, and 16 people are now dead, there have been few glimmers of light in the darkness.

The men identified as the shooters are a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24. The father was shot and killed by police last night, and the son was overpowered and taken into custody. The New South Wales police commissioner says little is yet known about the pair, but Sajid Akram was a licensed gun owner, with six guns in his possession. Old social media posts have also emerged of Naveed Akram being praised for his Islamic studies in 2022.

How these two men became radicalized to commit this atrocity, and how ingrained was their Jew hatred that they came to perpetrate their evil two-man jihad against men, women and children peacefully and joyfully celebrating Hanukkah, will become clear in the coming hours and days. They have, however, destroyed any lingering illusion since Hamas’s October 7 pogrom that Australia is the multicultural haven of peace and tolerance Australians are continually told we are.

But in the sadness, grief and gloom there is one shining example of courage and bravery of a man who risked his life to save others. He was not a policeman or emergency worker. He was just an ordinary bloke in the wrong place at what, for many, turned out to be the right time. And like the men shooting to end lives, the man who risked his to save many others is a Muslim.

Suburban fruit shop owner, Ahmed al-Ahmed, and his cousin happened to be visiting Bondi Beach as the shootings began. They took shelter behind parked cars as the bullets flew and innocent people were being cut down. Ahmed could have stayed there, keeping his head down, but saw he and his cousin were close enough to one gunman unaware of their proximity.

His cousin Mustafa told Australian media today that Ahmed saw an opportunity to tackle the shooter, and decided to try.

“Ahmed said that he was really upset to see so many people dying in front of him, he said he couldn’t take any more and he had to stop the killings,” Mustafa said.

“He said he just had to do something. He’s a very religious man, he’s Muslim, he doesn’t believe in killings, Muslims don’t.”

“He said he couldn’t take any killings in front of his eyes, and that it was time to stop the killing. He prayed to God, he said ‘give me strength’ and he ran at him from behind.”

The world saw Ahmed’s bravery, captured on video. How he jumped the younger shooter, disarming him after what must have been an adrenalin-charged wrestle, will be long remembered. In the act, he drew the fire of the older Akram and was hit in his shoulder and hand. Nearly a day later, Ahmed is in hospital with his various wounds and expected to undergo surgery later today.

Ahmed al-Ahmed came to Australia from Syria 13 years ago. He has lived a quiet and peaceful life in his new country, runs his small business and is married with two young daughters.

Today, however, he is also a hero, celebrated around the world. President Donald Trump called him “a very, very brave person, actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters, and saved a lot of lives.”

A commentator in the Jerusalem Post spoke for many when he wrote, “It is time for Jewish organizations in Australia and worldwide to elevate Ahmed al-Ahmed as a symbol of what courage looks like when it is unscripted and unpolished, when it comes from instinct and decency rather than ideology. He did not have to calculate the risk. He lived it,” and called for Ahmed to be honored as “Righteous Among the Nations.” An American billionaire donated $100,000 to assist him.

But Ahmed’s courage and bravery also serves a nobler purpose, especially today in shocked and horrified Australia. In the aftermath of Bondi, many Australians, in their anger at the perpetrators of this horrible terror act, haven’t hesitated to tar all Muslims with those men’s vile and evil brush. That is as wrong and hateful as those who hate Jews because of their anti-Israel or pro-Palestine ideologies. They should instead be thankful that many Jewish lives were saved by a Muslim man, who could have chosen to keep under cover and save himself. Ahmed’s selfless bravery is a timely and welcome reminder, to all who watched on in horror as the Bondi outrage unfolded, that it is wrong to conflate peaceable, faithful and devout Muslims with radical Islamists.

After a brutal terror attack like Bondi’s, it is understandable that many, in their anger and revulsion, apportion blame indiscriminately. They go past Islamic fanatics and zealots and willingly believe the worst of all Muslims: hate begetting hate. The spontaneous heroism of this mild-mannered, middle-aged Muslim family man reminds us that no faith has a monopoly on goodness – or badness. He’s an antidote to the hatred the perpetrators showed to the Jews they targeted.

In Australia, as we grieve and respond to what happened on Sunday evening, thanks to Ahmed al-Ahmed that’s a salutary lesson about humanity we need to remember just now.

[Paladin2]

Islam is a pox on Civilization.

It’s unlikely to change.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

May God bless and continue to be with this man in every single way in Jesus’ name.

Other news:
Sydney Muslims refuse funeral rites for Bondi massacre attackers

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/sydney-muslims-refuse-funeral-rites-for-bondi-massacre-attackers/news-story/02de03b003a4e6b9e1b80b675c6e52dd?amp

[jdege]

I remember reading one report that Ahmed wasn’t the only one who’d tried to stop the shooters, but the other guy was killed.

If this is true, I hope it’s a detail that isn’t lost, as we work through the mess.

[joshua c]

i hope ahmed has protection

he may be viewed as apostate

[cpdiii]

A commentator in the Jerusalem Post spoke for many when he wrote, “It is time for Jewish organizations in Australia and worldwide to elevate Ahmed al-Ahmed as a symbol of what courage looks like when it is unscripted and unpolished, when it comes from instinct and decency rather than ideology. He did not have to calculate the risk. He lived it,” and called for Ahmed to be honored as “Righteous Among the Nations.”

I posted almost the exact same thing yesterday and suggesting PM Netenyahua offer him asslim and citizen ship to Israel. This brave man is now a target of Muslim Extremists.

[joshua c]

for his heroic acts

lets hear the accolades from muslims

[cpdiii]

I forgot to add that the phrase “Righteous Among the Nations.” brings tears to my eyes. Many Christians saved Jews during the holocaust and if caught suffered the same fate.

Oddly the bravest man I ever knew was a small of height Frenchman living in the South of France during Nazi Occupation. He was only 16 years old then but knew the mountains and trails across the Pyrenees Mountains to Spain. He and his family were part of the resistance in France. His job was guiding downed aircrew to Spain. If caught he would have been tortured and eventually executed as would his family.

I meet Henry Nezonde in Oman in 1978. He was then a Petroleum Engineer in the Oilfields and my company had contracts with them. He was the head of ELF Aquatine in Oman.

I really enjoyed working with him. I took his kids diving on the coral reefs at his request. It was a pleasure to do so. We had meals at his home and at mine.

Henry has passed now years ago. He was just a 16 year old kid during the war. In reality he was a giant for freedom.

He would also kick my ass in squash. I was younger and stronger and early in the game was winning. Henry was precise and conserved his energy until I was tired. He then proceeded to defeat me with precise serves designed to make me run and become exhausted.

Henry was a great man and my friend. I miss him.

[Toughluck_freeper]

Twenty minutes… those animals walked around, aimed and shot people for twenty minutes!

I saw pictures of the police, terrified women that did not engage the terrorists.
Where were the armed citizens that could have stopped this debacle? Oh, my mistake this happened in Australia where people can’t have guns for self defense. It’s sad, it’s horrifying and it is a cautionary tale (for us).

[naturalman1975]

Yes, Reuven Morrison was killed as he tried to attack the terrorists.

A man named Boris Gurman was killed when he wrestled a firearm off one of the terrorists before the shooting even started. His wife, Sofia, was killed when she refused to leave her dead or dying husband's side.

More and more stories of various acts of heroism are emerging as time goes on.

We will remember them.

Australia has an Honours system which includes medals and commendations for bravery for civilians that stand alongside those we award to the military.

From left to right, The Cross of Valour (CV), The Star of Courage (SC), The Bravery Medal (BM), The Commendation for Brave Conduct, The Group Bravery Citation

I, for one - and I am sure there are others doing the same thing - am making formal nominations for these as information emerges. I've already done so for Mr Ahmed, Mr Morrison, and Mr Gurman, and will do so for Mrs Gurman, as soon as it is more clear exactly what she did - just staying with her husband is heroic, but some people have suggested she also joined him in attacking the gunmen and I don't want to sell her short if this is so.

[Uncle Miltie]

The author makes a good and fair point.

Proportions matter. Vast quantities of muslims want to murder me. I take that personally, and behave accordingly.

But not all are muslims, some are Muslims. I will henceforth distinguish between the righteous Muslims and the murderous muslims with case sensitivity.

[Paladin2]

To prolong Civilization, Islam needs to be extinguished, with prejudice.

The meek muzzies can become Zoroastrians.

[Uncle Miltie]

lol!

[SeekAndFind]

I’m getting conflicting reports that this hero is NOT a Muslim but a LEBANESE CHRISTIAN!

[SeekAndFind]

I’m getting conflicting reports that this hero is NOT a Muslim but a LEBANESE CHRISTIAN!

[jdege]

I thought that the response of the police couldn't have been worse.

I was wrong.

Bondi Beach hero helped disarm terrorist before police mistakenly shot him: report

A man who rushed in to help disarm one of the terrorists who fired at a crowd celebrating Hanukkah in Australia’s famous Bondi Beach was mistakenly shot by police and tackled by bystanders, according to a new report.

The heroic civilian, who was only described as a Middle Eastern refugee living with his Australian wife and kids, was in Bondi Beach when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, allegedly opened fire at a crowd of Jewish revelers.

[naturalman1975]

I’ve seen the video. He was certainly shot at by police - and then attacked by police and other bystanders - but I hadn’t actually heard he’d been shot.