Ahmed Al Ahmed, hailed as a national hero for his courageous actions during the Bondi Beach terror attack, has revealed a critical detail about the harrowing incident: he could not see the shooter, Sajid Akram, in the moments before he wrestled the weapon from him. In a candid interview for 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, Ahmed returned to the park near Bondi Pavilion for the first time since the horrific events of December 14, which claimed the lives of 15 innocent Australians, including a child as young as 10 years old.
The Chaotic Scene at Bondi Beach
The attack unfolded at a Jewish family festival celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, held on a grassy area near the sand. Ahmed recounted that he had wandered into the festival simply looking to buy a coffee, but the situation rapidly descended into chaos. It was the piercing screams of those around him, particularly children, that steeled his resolve to confront the gunman. Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed Akram, allegedly opened fire on the crowd, unleashing round after round from a footbridge above a carpark.
Hiding and Waiting for the Signal
Ahmed and an unidentified stranger took cover behind two cars in the carpark below the footbridge, where the shooters were positioned. As Sajid moved off the bridge and closer to the festival in the park, Ahmed explained that his line of sight was obstructed. He had to trust the stranger nearby to signal when the gunman was approaching so he could spring into action. "This guy, he kept telling me, 'He's coming, he's coming' and then he says, 'He's here' and I asked God to help me and I don't think. Just saw and do it," Ahmed recalled.
The Brave Disarming and Aftermath
In an act of immense bravery that has earned him widespread admiration, Ahmed then wrestled the gun from Sajid and turned the weapon back onto the terrorist. "I ran into him and hit him with my hand, right hand in his head. Then I grabbed him into my arm - you know, his face, his neck - try to hold him with my arm," he described. However, Ahmed chose not to shoot Sajid after disarming him, stating it was "not his job" to exact revenge but merely to prevent further harm. "Because I'm a human being, and I don't wanna put my hand in blood. My target was just to take the gun and stop him from killing a human being," he emphasized.
Confrontation and Escape
During the struggle, Ahmed admitted to screaming and swearing in a manner he described as "very Aussie," shouting phrases like "Motherf***er! Stop what you are doing, piece of s***." He noted that the gunman did not speak but instead fled back to the footbridge. Sajid returned to the footbridge, allegedly alongside Naveed, and Ahmed was shot five times in his left shoulder, which he believes was retaliation for his intervention.
Legal Proceedings and Recovery
Sajid was fatally shot by police just minutes later, followed by Naveed, who survived and recently made his first court appearance. Naveed has been charged with 59 offences, including terrorism, 15 counts of murder, and 40 counts of attempted murder. The entire shooting lasted a little over six minutes, resulting in 15 deaths and more than 40 injuries. Many victims, including Ahmed, are still recovering more than two months after the attack, highlighting the lasting impact of this tragic event on the community.
