The courageous Australian who disarmed one of the gunmen at Bondi Beach, despite sustaining injuries himself, has shared his story for the first time since being discharged from the hospital. Ahmed, hailed as a hero, reflects on his daring actions that undoubtedly saved numerous lives, yet he remains somber, expressing his sorrow for those who were lost in the incident.
In dramatic footage from that day, Ahmed can be seen springing into action, emerging from behind vehicles to tackle the assailant, Akram. With remarkable bravery, he seized the gun from Akram and turned it back on him, an act that underscored his quick thinking and courage.
While his heroic act came at a personal cost—suffering gunshot wounds to his arm and shoulder—Ahmed’s resolve was unshaken. Speaking with CBS, he recounted the intense moment when he leaped onto Akram’s back, striking him and demanding he cease his violent actions.
“Emotionally, I felt something powerful within me, both in my body and mind,” he shared, capturing the extraordinary surge of determination that propelled him to act decisively.
Ahmed told CBS he jumped on Akram’s back and hit him as he warned him to drop his gun and stop what he was doing.
“And emotionally, I’m doing something, which is I feel something, a power in my body, my brain,” he said.
“I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to hear his gun, I don’t want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help, and that’s my soul asking me to do that.
“Everything in my heart, in my brain, everything, it’s worked just to manage to save the people’s life.”
Ahmed has received international praise for his actions from Prime Minister Anthony Albaese to US President Donald Trump and has been hailed as a hero.
In his hospital bed, he was awarded a cheque of $2.5 million after money was raised on GoFundMe to support his recovery, and he was visited by Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
