A bystander who confronted and disarmed a gunman after he opened fire at a Jewish event in Bondi Beach, Australia, was praised across social media on Sunday.
This bystander, whom Seven News identified as Ahmed el Ahmed, was captured on video when he tackled the gunman from behind as he was aiming to fire. As he fell down, he dropped his weapon, which appeared to be a rifle, and the bystander grabbed the gun and aimed it at the gunman.
Ahmed, 43, became the topic of several social media posts congratulating his bravery.
“Give this man a medal. He wrestles the gun out of the shooter’s hands,” Australian Sen. Ralph Babet captioned the video footage on X on Sunday.
“Thank God one bystander heroically intervened showing the good side of our country. I am praying for all those affected at this time,” former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott wrote on X.
Media personalities also voiced their appreciation for Ahmed.
“THE BONDI HERO,” talk show host Piers Morgan wrote on X. “After so bravely jumping on the first terrorist, he was then shot twice by the second terrorist, and is now being treated in hospital but expected to be OK. Thank you Ahmed.”
“Lotta really horrible news this weekend that makes you not wanna even turn on the tv. Brown, Syria, Australia … But at least there was this hero who disarmed one of the madmen terrorists at the Bondi Beach Hanukka attacks,” Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy wrote on X. “ Total bad***.”
“Absolute legend. Thank God for this man,” women’s sports activist Riley Gaines wrote on X on Sunday.
Ahmed was also commended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said, “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.”
ELEVEN DEAD AFTER GUNMEN OPEN FIRE ON JEWISH EVENT IN AUSTRALIA
Reports of gunfire came in around 6:47 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time on the first day of Hanukkah at the Chabad of Bondi’s annual “Chanukah by the Sea” event on the public beach near a children’s playground. The event included the lighting of a grand menorah to mark the start of the eight-day Jewish holiday.
Ahmed underwent surgery for two gunshot wounds, one in his arm and another in his hand, per Seven News.