A man hailed as a hero for confronting one of the gunmen during the Bondi Beach terror attack is preparing to reopen his shop after a long recovery. Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Syrian-born tobacconist, was shot five times after wrestling a firearm from one of the attackers during the massacre on December 14, 2025.
The attack, which killed 15 people and injured many others, targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Police said the suspects, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, were motivated by Islamic State ideology. Mr al-Ahmed's actions were captured on video and widely praised by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and local leaders.
Mr al-Ahmed underwent multiple surgeries and spent weeks in hospital. He has since been recovering at home and plans to reopen his shop in the coming weeks. 'He is doing well and looking forward to getting back to normal life,' a family friend said.
His bravery was described as 'the best of humanity' by NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane, who said: 'That gentleman that turned up and took down the attacker is a national hero.' Mr al-Ahmed's decision not to shoot the disarmed gunman was noted as a sign of his humanity by former Australian Federal Police officer Dr John Coyne.
