The man celebrated as a hero for his actions during the deadly Bondi Beach attack has become embroiled in a public dispute with a major news network after a last-minute withdrawal from a high-profile interview.
A Promised Interview and a Luxury Suite
Ahmed Al Ahmed, the Sydney tobacco shop owner who was shot while disarming a gunman on December 14, had agreed to a sit-down interview with Sky News Australia anchor Sharri Markson. According to the channel, this was arranged following discussions that began on Christmas Day with his then-lawyer, Sam Issa.
Sky News claims it facilitated a three-night stay in a $6,000-a-night suite at Crown Sydney's hotel in Barangaroo for Mr Al Ahmed. The network states it also organised several elements he requested, including sourcing six white doves for a memorial ceremony at Bondi and arranging for Jewish community members to attend.
Staff, including Markson, were reportedly recalled from Christmas leave to prepare for the interview, which was scheduled for shortly after Mr Al Ahmed's discharge from hospital.
The Day of the No-Show
On the morning of the planned interview, Mark Calvert, Sky News Australia's Head of Programmes, says everything was in place. Mr Al Ahmed had shown Markson graphic photographs of his five bullet wounds and footage of him tackling the assailant. Over breakfast, Markson presented him with a silver Star of David necklace as a gesture from herself and the Jewish community.
Mr Al Ahmed then excused himself to greet his parents at the hotel and freshen up, but failed to return. Calls and messages from the news crew went unanswered. Calvert, who penned a detailed account of the day, insists Mr Al Ahmed had looked him in the eye and given a "solemn promise" to proceed.
Later communications revealed Mr Al Ahmed had cited a need for pain medication and a brief return to hospital, proposing a 4pm interview time. However, his lawyer, Sam Issa, reportedly told Sky News that tensions had emerged and he had 'sacked himself' from representing his client.
Aftermath and Ongoing Spotlight
The interview never happened. Calvert claims that as Sky staff were leaving the hotel that evening, they saw Mr Al Ahmed returning from the Barangaroo dining precinct with a cousin. He allegedly told them he felt let down by someone close to him and was too upset to proceed.
Despite the collapsed Sky News plans, Mr Al Ahmed continued to receive high-profile visitors at the Crown suite. On Tuesday, he was visited by Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Amir Mamon, and the NSW Premier, Chris Minns.
The incident has sparked debate about media management around Mr Al Ahmed, who gave an interview to CBS News from the same hotel suite just a day before the scheduled Sky News session. In that interview, he expressed sorrow for the victims lost in the attack, despite his own heroic actions.
Mr Al Ahmed's intervention during the attack, where he wrestled gunman Sajid Akram to the ground before being wounded in a police crossfire, has seen him globally hailed. He has since received a $2.5 million cheque from a public fundraiser and his family have been granted visas to travel to Australia to support his recovery, which may require further surgery.
