Ahmed Al Ahmed, the Sydney shop owner who tackled a gunman during the deadly Bondi terror attack, has broken his silence in his first interview since the December 14 massacre. Speaking to Australian CBS News journalist Anna Coren in an interview set to air Monday, the 43-year-old described the moment he threw himself at the armed attacker to stop further bloodshed - an act of bravery that cost him four gunshot wounds but helped save countless lives at a Jewish Hanukkah festival.
«My target was just to take the gun from him, and to stop him from killing a human being - and not killing innocent people,» Al Ahmed told CBS. Despite being shot multiple times in the shoulder, he remained focused on disarming the shooter. «I jumped on his back, hit him. I hold him with my right hand and start saying a word, you know, like to warn him, drop your gun, stop doing what you're doing, and it's come all in fast.»
The attack at Archer Park in Bondi claimed 15 lives and injured dozens more. Gunman Sajid Akram, 50, opened fire on over 1,000 people celebrating Hanukkah before being shot dead by police at the scene. His son Naveed Akram now faces 59 charges in connection with the massacre. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as motivated by ISIS and antisemitism.
Al Ahmed explained the emotional force that drove him to intervene. «I feel something, a power in my body, my brain. I don't want to see people killed in front of me, I don't want to hear his gun, I don't want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help, and that's my soul asking me to do that,» he said in the CBS interview. But he remains haunted by those who died: «I know I saved lots - but I still feel sorry for the lost.»
The father of two is now recovering from major surgery to save his arm at Crown Towers hotel in Sydney's Barangaroo, where he moved into a penthouse suite after being discharged from hospital at the weekend. He still wears a sling on his left arm and may require further surgery due to nerve damage. Doctors believe he could suffer permanent damage from the shooting.
Global recognition and support
Footage of Al Ahmed's intervention circulated worldwide, prompting a massive GoFundMe campaign that raised 2.5 million Australian dollars - approximately £1.2 million - from over 40,000 donors. Contributors included comedian Amy Schumer and billionaire Bill Ackman. The funds were presented to him in hospital last week.
Australia announced before Christmas that it would establish an award to recognize individuals like Al Ahmed who confronted «the worst of evil» during the attack. The federal government also granted visas to his siblings from Germany, Russia and the United Arab Emirates to reunite with him during his recovery. His parents were already in Australia on holiday when the shooting occurred. One sister in Syria is still seeking a visitor visa.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
