Australian Prime Minister Visits Injured Bystander as Fundraiser Surpasses $2 Million After Bondi Attack

SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited an injured bystander Tuesday who helped stop one of the attackers during Sunday’s antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach, as public support for the man who tackled a gunman continued to grow.

Albanese praised Ahmed al Ahmed for running toward danger and disarming a gunman during the shooting at a Hanukkah gathering.

“Ahmed, you are an Australian hero,” Albanese wrote. “You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist.”

“In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians,” he added.

Ahmed, you are an Australian hero.

You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist.

In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians. And that's exactly what we saw on Sunday night.

On behalf of every Australian, I… pic.twitter.com/mAoObU3TZD

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 16, 2025

A GoFundMe campaign set up to support Ahmed al Ahmed and to show gratitude for his actions has raised $2,005,544, reaching 66% of its $3.1 million goal, with more than 34,600 donations, according to the fundraising page. The campaign was created to support someone who demonstrated extraordinary courage when it mattered most.

Authorities said the attack targeted Jewish families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. One attacker was killed at the scene, while another remains hospitalized.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that security has been increased around Jewish institutions nationwide.