Sydney, AAP – A man seen wrestling and disarming one of the gunmen who opened fire at a crowd at Bondi Beach has been identified as a local fruit shop owner.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, a 43-year-old from the Sutherland Shire, has been hailed a hero after ripping the gun from the hands of one gunman before he was shot twice by another shooter from a nearby bridge.
Mr Al Ahmed is now recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.
His cousin Mustafa said his family was anxious for updates on his condition as he was treated at St George’s Hospital.
“He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” he told Seven News.
“We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero, 100 per cent.”
At least 16 people died and many more were left injured after two gunmen took aim at a crowd gathered for a Hannukah celebration at the beach just before 7pm on Sunday.
One of the gunmen is in police custody while the other was killed.
Multiple videos posted to social media show two gunmen standing on a footbridge connecting Campbell Parade to the Bondi Pavilion, firing shots into a crowd.
The men could be seen firing guns as people screamed and sprinted for cover.
In an act that may have prevented more deaths, one of the gunmen was disarmed by Mr Al Ahmed and prevented from firing further shots into the crowd.
Footage of the altercation shows him crouching behind a parked car in the Campbell Parade car park.
He then sneaks up behind the gunman before wrestling the firearm from his grip in the potentially fatal tussle.
The altercation sends the man who had previously held the gun staggering to the ground before he gets up and walks towards the carpark bridge overpass where another shooter was continuing to fire.
The video appears to be taken by an occupant filming from an apartment overlooking the scene.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saluted the Bondi beach hero during a governmental meeting.
“We saw an action of a brave man–turns out a Muslim brave man, and I salute him–that stopped one of these terrorists from killing innocent Jews,” Mr Neyanyahu said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed heroes who ran toward danger to help the injured.
“We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others,” he told reporters on Sunday night.
“These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives.”
While many have praised the bystander’s actions in intervening as an act of bravery that may have saved lives, others have questioned why police action wasn’t so swift.
Grace Matthews was heading to the beach to join the Chanukah by the Sea event when she heard shots being fired and sheltered in a church.
“One of my friends was at the festival (and) he said the police were just very underprepared to respond to this kind of a threat,” Ms Matthews told ABC News.
“There’s a police station less than a block from where the shooting was happening … it’s beyond my understanding as to why it took so long to handle.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he was “incredibly proud” of the force’s response.
“They have done a fantastic job, and unfortunately, after the Westfield Bondi Junction attack, we have learned a lot and tonight ambulance and police and other responders acted promptly and professionally to do a great job,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, NSW police say they are treating a shooting attack as a terrorist event as they hunt for a possible third gunman but are calling for “calm in the community”.
And NSW Premier Chris Minns vowed a swift response from authorities, saying all resources will be at the disposal of police after the hail of bullets was unleased at dozens of victims at Archer Park at 6.47pm on Sunday.
“I can assure the community it (the attack) will be met with a massive, comprehensive and public order response,” he told reporters a mere three hours after the mass shooting.
“We’re sending a clear and unambiguous message to the Jewish community and in fact every Australian that lives in this state that these horrible acts will never be tolerated.”
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he declared the incident a terrorist event at 9.36pm, authorising special police powers for investigation to ensure that any possible third gunman on the loose would be arrested promptly.
“This disgraceful act will not go unpunished,” he said.
He confirmed several investigators were searching homes of suspects in Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest but would not comment on the identity of one gunman killed and another in serious condition in hospital under police guard.
“I cannot confirm there is a third offender but I want to make sure there is no stone left unturned,” he said.
He said there were public order and riot squads deployed throughout the city to ensure there is calm.
“This is not a time for retribution. This a time to allow police to do their duty,” Mr Lanyon warned.
The commissioner also noted a car was found at Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach containing several improvised explosive devices linked to the killed gunman with a bomb disposal unit working on defusing them.
He would not comment on specific numbers of officers positioned but said “as many as is required” from relevant command levels such as counter-terrorism will be assisting in ongoing investigations.
“We have the capability and the resources to investigate this matter … we’re here to keep the community safe,” Mr Lanyon said.
