Hero Bystander Disarms Gunman in Bondi Beach Hanukkah Attack

At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured after gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday evening, Dec. 14, authorities said. Officials later said the death toll had risen to 16, including one of the suspected attackers, as the investigation continued.

The shooting occurred around 6:47 p.m. local time at Archer Park during Chanukah by the Sea, a Jewish beach festival attended by families and children, according to New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. The incident was declared a terrorist attack, and police confirmed the shooting was intended to target Sydney’s Jewish community.

Bystander Hailed as Hero

Amid the chaos, an unidentified bystander intervened and wrestled a gun from one of the attackers, an act authorities say likely saved lives.

“It’s the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen,” Minns said during a press conference. “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.”

The man was later identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, according to his cousin Mustafa, who spoke to local outlet 7 NEWS. Mustafa said Ahmed was hospitalized with two gunshot wounds.

“He’s a hero,” Mustafa said. “100%, he’s a hero.”

Witness video obtained by The Daily Mail appears to show the moment the bystander rushed a gunman, tackled him to the ground, and seized the firearm before aiming it back toward the attackers.

Suspects and Explosives Under Investigation

Authorities initially said two gunmen opened fire. One died at the scene, and another was taken into custody, Minns confirmed. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said investigators are also examining whether a third gunman was involved, though police have not confirmed that possibility.

One suspect was identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Officials have not confirmed whether Akram was the shooter disarmed by the bystander.

Police also recovered improvised explosive devices from a vehicle near the scene.

“Police located a vehicle in Campbell Parade at Bondi which we believe has several improvised explosive devices,” Lanyon said. “Our rescue bomb disposal unit is working on that.”

Later police briefings confirmed that two suspects, a father and son, were involved. The father, a licensed firearm owner, was shot by police and died at the scene. The son, 24, was hospitalized under police guard, according to NSW Police.

Rising Death Toll and Victims

NSW Police said 14 people died at the scene, with two more victims a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man later dying at the hospital. At least 42 people remain hospitalized, including two police officers in critical but stable condition.

One of the victims was identified as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, head of the Chabad mission in Bondi, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC. Schlanger was 41, a father of five, and had a newborn son.

Rabbi Zalman Lewis, his cousin, told the BBC that Schlanger was “full of life” and urged people to honor him through acts of charity.

National and Global Reaction

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “shocking and distressing,” while Minns described it as “an intolerable situation” and said the state was reviewing gun laws.

President Donald Trump, speaking at a White House event, referenced the Bondi Beach attack alongside the Brown University shooting in Rhode Island that occurred the day before.

“That was an antisemitic attack, obviously,” Trump said. He also praised the bystander who confronted one of the gunmen, calling him “a very, very brave person.”

The attack came amid heightened concern over antisemitic violence globally. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Australia recorded 1,654 antisemitic incidents this year alone.

Brown University Vigil Highlights Global Impact

On the other side of the world, Providence, Rhode Island, held a vigil following the Brown University shooting, where two students were killed and nine others injured. Mayor Brett Smiley announced the vigil would coincide with a planned menorah lighting.

“If we can come together as a community and shine a little bit of light tonight,” Smiley said, “there’s nothing better that we could be doing.”

Officials in the U.S., Europe, and Australia have increased security around synagogues and Hanukkah events as investigations into the Bondi Beach attack continue.

This story connects tragedies across continents. Readers can bookmark or share this article as communities reflect and respond.