Ahmed is recovering after surgery, says family of hero who disarmed Bondi gunman

SYDNEY: A Sydney fruit shop owner who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers during the mass shooting at Bondi Beach is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hand, his family said.

AI Brief

Ahmed al Ahmed disarmed a shooter during Australia's worst mass shooting in 30 years, saving lives at a Hanukkah celebration.
Attack by father and son killed 15 people, as Ahmed remains in hospital after surgery and is hailed as a hero globally.
GoFundMe for Ahmed raised over A$200,000, with major donations including hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman.

Forty-three-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed was identified on social media as the bystander who hid behind parked cars before charging at the gunman from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground.

Australian police on Monday said a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son carried out the attack at a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday afternoon, killing 15 people in the country's worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.

Ahmed's cousin Mustafa told 7News Australia that doctors had informed the family that Ahmed was stable following surgery.

"He is a hero, he is a hundred percent hero," Mustafa said.

"Still he is in the hospital and we don't know exactly what's going on inside ... but we hope he will be fine."

Tributes have poured in from leaders both abroad and at home.

U.S. President Donald Trump called Ahmed "a very, very brave person" who saved many lives. Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state where Sydney is located, has hailed him "a genuine hero" and said the video was "the most unbelievable scene I've ever seen".

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Ahmed with just over A$200,000 ($132,900) raised in a few hours. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was the largest donor, contributing A$99,999 and sharing the fundraiser on his X account.