Ahmed al-Ahmed, the man who overpowered one of the Bondi Beach shooters, said he does not regret trying to disarm the gunman and that he would do it again.
According to Australian media reports, Ahmed, a fruit shop owner, sustained five bullet wounds across his left arm. He continues to be critical but stable.
Ahmed, who was hailed as a hero by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, was seen in videos, appearing to tackle and disarm one gunman, before pointing the man’s weapon at him, then setting the gun on the ground. “Ahmed al-Ahmed … took the gun off that perpetrator at great risk to himself and suffered serious injury as a result of that, and is currently going through operations today in hospital,” the PM had said.
Sam Issa, Ahmed’s migration lawyer, has been quoted as saying, “He doesn’t regret what he did. He said he would do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him.”
“He is not well at all. He is riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Issa as saying.
Issa said Ahmed is in a lot worse condition than expected, although he sustained bullet injuries only in his arm. He has reportedly lost a lot of blood.
Issa said Ahmed is not interested in media coverage and that he did what he was compelled to do as a human being on that day. “He gets that gratitude from being in Australia. This is his way of conveying his gratitude for staying in Australia, for being granted citizenship.”
Ahmed’s father had said his son doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and another. “Especially here in Australia, there’s no difference between one citizen and another.”
Bondi Beach hero Ahmed al-Ahmed reveals why he risked his life to disarm the gunman
