In the chaotic aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror shooting, an innocent bystander was shot at by police and attacked by members of the public after he was mistakenly identified as a third gunman. The man had bravely rushed onto the footbridge where the alleged shooters had just been arrested.
Chaos on the Bridge
The man, wearing a distinctive black Givenchy shirt, was captured on video kicking away a high-powered rifle from one of the immobilised gunmen. He immediately raised his hands and shouted 'don't shoot' to identify himself. Despite this, police officers who had swarmed the bridge opened fire, forcing the man to duck for cover.
As he backed away with his hands still raised, a member of the public in a white t-shirt and board shorts punched him in the face. This assault continued even as a police officer ordered the bystander to get on the ground. After being pulled away by a detective, the same member of the public rushed back and kicked the man in the head. Officers also had to intervene to stop a shirtless, tattooed beachgoer from grabbing him.
Heroic Actions Misunderstood
The advocacy group Human Rights for All identified the man, referred to as AB, as a refugee without a permanent visa. In a statement, they clarified his actions: 'When the shooter was hit, this hero ran up the bridge and kicked away the gun the shooter was still holding.' The group explained that other bystanders misunderstood his intent, leading to the attack, but emphasised that AB did not fight back.
The dramatic scenes were captured in close-up footage by 7News cameraman Nick Castellaro, who rushed to the scene from his nearby flat as gunshots rang out near Bondi Beach just before 7pm on Sunday. Castellaro himself was allegedly fired upon by the suspected terrorist, Naveed Akram, 24, from his elevated position on the bridge.
Aftermath of a National Tragedy
The incident occurred during what authorities have declared a terrorism incident, Australia's worst mass shooting since Port Arthur. The alleged father-and-son gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, from Bonnyrigg in western Sydney, are believed to have opened fire on crowds at a Jewish Hanukkah event.
At least 15 innocent people lost their lives, including 10-year-old Matilda. Dozens more were injured, among them two NSW Police officers: Constable Scott Dyson and probationary constable Jack Hibbert. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police, while his son Naveed was shot and injured.
In a related act of bravery, Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, was filmed rushing through parked cars to disarm the second gunman. He will be visited in hospital by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday.
Police confirmed that Sajid Akram, a licensed gun owner for a decade, legally owned the six firearms used in the attack. National Cabinet has now vowed to tighten Australia's gun laws in the wake of the tragedy.
