Parents of Man Who Disarmed Sydney Shooter Speak Out About Son’s Courage: ‘My Son Is a Hero’

The parents of Ahmed al Ahmed — the man who disarmed one of the gunmen during the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event on Australia’s Bondi Beach — are speaking publicly about what they call their son’s instinctive bravery.

In an interview with CBS News published Monday, Dec. 15, Ahmed’s parents, who arrived in Sydney from Syria two months ago, said they were terrified when they first heard he had been near the scene as the attack unfolded.

“My son is a hero,” his father, identified by NBC News as Mohammad Fatih Al-Ahmed, told CBS. “He served with the police and he has the impulse to protect people.”

He said that when Ahmed saw victims “covered in blood,” he felt compelled to intervene. According to his father, Ahmed confronted one of the attackers, wrestled away the weapon and forced the gunman to flee. He added that a second attacker then shot Ahmed in the shoulder from a distance.

Ahmed’s mother described the initial panic of learning her son had been caught up in the incident.

“I learned he was involved in an incident and that he was in hospital,” she said. “You know how a mother feels when she hears that her son is involved in an incident.”

But once she understood what had happened, she said her fear turned into pride.

“Then, when I learned the details, I was very proud that my son was helping people and saving lives,” she added, saying he sustained bullet wounds to his shoulder and hand.

Mohammad said the family has been overwhelmed by the response to Ahmed’s actions, including praise from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“There isn’t a news agency that hasn’t shown the heroic work he did. Even President Trump thanked him for his actions,” he said. “He is a man who sacrificed his life and himself to save lives.”

Ahmed, a fruit shop owner, remains hospitalized after undergoing surgery for his injuries.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also praised Ahmed — who is the father of two daughters, ages 6 and 3, his father told NBC — for his actions during Sunday’s shooting. Minns shared a photo on Instagram of himself speaking with Ahmed as he recovered in a hospital bed.

“Ahmed is a real-life hero. Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” Minns wrote in part. “…There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for Ahmed’s selfless courage.”

Minns said during a press conference that at around 6:47 p.m. local time on Sunday, Dec. 14, two gunmen opened fire on a crowd in Archer Park at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The victims reportedly ranged in age from 10 to 87, and authorities said at least 15 people were killed and 40 others injured.

The incident occurred as members of the Jewish community gathered for the beach festival Chanukah (Hanukkah) by the Sea — an event attended by many children and families on the first night of the eight-day holiday, News.com.au reported.

The shooters were identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, of Sydney, and Sajid Akram, 50, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the BBC. The two are father and son, and Minns later confirmed that one gunman died at the scene and the other is in custody.

Video footage showed Ahmed hiding behind a parked car near one of the gunmen before rushing forward, wrestling him to the ground, and taking control of the firearm. He then aimed it back at the attacker.

“It’s the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen,” Minns said. “A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people. That man is a genuine hero and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”