A courageous bystander put his life on the line during a mass shooting by confronting one of the gunmen, and now his parents have shared their thoughts publicly for the first time.
Australia is in a period of mourning following a mass shooting, one of the most devastating in the country since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
At least 15 people have been confirmed dead after two gunmen opened fire on crowds gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
It was later discovered that the accused gunmen were a father-son duo, Sajid and Naveed Akram.
Among the chaos, a dramatic moment was captured on film showing a civilian bravely attempting to disarm one of the shooters while they were still firing at people.
This courageous individual has been identified as 43-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner who is being lauded worldwide for his life-saving actions.
The footage depicts Ahmed stealthily approaching one of the gunmen and successfully wrestling the gun away, though he was injured by gunfire himself in the process.
Once he secured the weapon, he pointed it at one of the attackers, causing them to flee.
Ahmed’s parents spoke to local media expressing their pride in their son’s heroics. They confirmed that he had served in Syrian law enforcement before relocating to Australia. His parents are newcomers to the country.
Mohamed Fateh Al Ahmed, Ahmed’s father, told ABC news: “My son is a hero, he served with the police and in the central security forces.
“He has the impulse to protect people.
“When he did what he did, he wasn’t thinking about the background of the people he was saving.
“My son is an Australian citizen, he defended the innocent people.”
Ahmed’s mother also shared her feelings with reporters.
Malakeh Hasan Al Ahmed, his mother, added: “My son has always been brave, he helps people, he is like that.”
Ahmed’s parents reported that he has already undergone surgery to remove multiple bullets from his shoulder and hand.
A fundraiser has been initiated for Ahmed, amassing over $1 million to date.
Emergency workers have received commendations from the public and Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, for their courage in assisting during and after the attack.
In a statement, Albanese remarked: “I think we need to recognize their incredible work at a time as well when two police officers have been seriously injured as a result of the efforts and bravery they have shown.”