NEW YORK (VINnews) — In his first interview since the Dec. 14 attack, Bondi Beach hero Ahmed al Ahmed recalled the moment he ran toward one of the attackers and wrestled the gun from him, saying in an interview published Monday on CBS News that he wanted to protect “innocent people.”
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Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14, killing 15 people and wounding dozens in an antisemitic terrorist attack.
Ahmad’s interview is being broadcast as the families of the victims called for a national inquiry into antisemitism and alleged failures in policing, intelligence and policy around the Bondi attack.
Despite the failures, tales of heroism emerged of those who tried to stop the two gunmen during their deadly rampage. Among them was Ahmed, a fruit seller, who went viral for ducking between parked cars as the shooting unfolded and then wresting a gun from one of the assailants.
“My target was just to take the gun from him, and to stop him from taking a human being’s life and not killing innocent people,” he told CBS News in the interview that will air on Monday. “I know I saved lots, but I feel sorry for those lost.”
EXCLUSIVE: Ahmed al Ahmed, the man hailed as a hero for tackling one of the gunmen behind an antisemitic attack on Australia’s Bondi Beach earlier this month, is speaking out in the aftermath of the massacre.
“I know I saved lots, but I feel sorry still for the lost.” pic.twitter.com/gFUfJvv7c6
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 28, 2025
Ahmed was shot several times in the shoulder after tussling with one of the gunmen and underwent several rounds of surgery. A crowdfunding campaign for the hero has since raised $2.5 million
Ahmed recalled the moment he “jumped” on the gunman’s back, holding him with his right hand and saying: “Drop your gun, stop doing what you’re doing.”
“I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to see blood, I don’t want to hear his gun, I don’t want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help,” Ahmed told the television network.
Ahmed was at the beach getting a cup of coffee when the shooting occurred.The father of two emigrated to Australia from Syria in 2007, his uncle Mohammed, a farmer, had told AFP in Ahmed’s hometown of Al-Nayrab days after the shooting.
“His act is a source of pride for us and for Syria,” Mohammed said.
The Australian government has fast-tracked and granted a number of visas for Ahmed’s family, local media reported. “Ahmed has shown the courage and values we want in Australia,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
One of the gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack. An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998. His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, remains in custody on charges including terrorism and 15 murders, as well as committing a “terrorist act” and planting a bomb with intent to harm. He has yet to enter a plea.
He is a huge hero but most likley only because he is not a frum muslim.He is clean shaven, in bluzen kup and I doubt he davnes 5 times a day. I say this with my full admiration for the guy. BH he saw the light and doesn’t subscribe to that cult. Thats how we save lives
How do you have a large ( Jewish-) Public Event in an unfriendly environment without adequate Security?
You depended on a non- Jewish fruit vendor to defend against armed terrorists. What did you think he could do- throw apples and banana at the bad guys?