Ahmed Al Ahmed, hailed worldwide for his extraordinary bravery, was honoured on Sunday as Australia observed a National Day of Reflection following last week’s deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Thousands gathered at Bondi Beach to mourn the victims of the attack and pay their respects, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns joined the commemorations.
“This has been a dark week for Australia, but we will never let hate divide us,” Albanese wrote on X after attending the event. “Tonight, we stood together as Australians.”
Addressing the crowd, David Ossip, president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, praised the heroism of Ahmed, a Muslim of Syrian origin, in confronting one of the gunmen during the attack. Ahmed drew global attention after tackling one of the two shooters, an act credited with saving numerous lives.
The crowd responded with sustained applause as Ossip described Ahmed’s “unbelievable bravery,” noting that he had met Ahmed earlier in the day and that Ahmed’s father was present at the gathering.
Ossip also relayed a message from Ahmed to those assembled: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Today I stand with you, my brothers and sisters. Thank you, my brothers and sisters.” Ossip concluded by thanking Ahmed publicly.
Earlier in the day, Albanese and Minns condemned an anti-immigration rally held in the aftermath of the attack, with Minns stating that it was “the last thing we need right now.”
The shooting occurred last Sunday evening when a man and his son opened fire on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring 42 others. Police have described the incident as a terrorist attack. One of the attackers was killed at the scene, while the other was critically wounded and remains hospitalised.
Albanese has described Syrian-born Ahmed as “the best of our country.” Ahmed, who migrated to Australia in 2006 and is a father of two daughters, sustained four to five gunshot wounds to his left shoulder and is currently receiving treatment at Sydney’s St George Hospital.
