One year after he tackled a gunman during the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil, Ahmed Al Ahmed still has two bullets in his left arm, takes sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication, and faces a family legal battle, but says he has no regrets about not shooting the gunman and is planning a foundation to help women and children affected by domestic violence.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, 45, became a global hero on December 14, 2025, when he charged at Sajid Akram, 50, who was shooting near a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach. Al Ahmed wrestled the rifle from Akram, who later retrieved another weapon and was shot dead by police. A second gunman, Akram's son Naveed, fired from a pedestrian bridge. Fifteen people were killed, including three people who also confronted the attackers.
Five bullets entered Al Ahmed’s left arm and shoulder. He says the arm has improved only modestly. He did not make a conscious decision to charge at Akram. 'He was a big guy,' he told Good Weekend magazine. 'Very muscly. Higher than me.' He also told the magazine: 'When the evil came in front of me, forgive me, I'm not the person who can sit and wait and look.'
Israeli man Gefen Bitton, who arrived at Al Ahmed's side during the struggle, later said in a book that he yelled at Al Ahmed: 'What the f--- are you doing? F---ing shoot him or give me the gun.' Al Ahmed told Good Weekend he has never regretted not shooting: 'Never, never, never. Taking the life of someone, it's not my job.'
Al Ahmed received more than $2.5 million from a GoFundMe campaign. In May, his two younger brothers were charged after he told police they threatened to hurt him if he did not give them each $100,000. Both pleaded not guilty; the case is still before the courts. Then Al Ahmed was charged with assaulting his father, who later retracted the allegation. The charges were dropped in August. 'I'm honest. Innocent,' Al Ahmed told radio station 2GB at the time.
He still struggles with the emotional toll. 'It's a little bit to forget what happened,' he said of his medication. 'Because the situation was too big. It was horrible.' He thinks often of the victims, especially 10-year-old Matilda Britvan, and is aware that others who confronted a gunman, Boris and Sofia Gurman, and Reuven Morrison, were killed.
Al Ahmed, who came to Australia in 2006 after moving to Dubai, was honoured at the SCG before the Ashes Test in January, was hailed as a hero by US President Donald Trump and King Charles III, and was given the keys to the cities of Canterbury-Bankstown and Waverley. His memoir, Light Will Win, written with ghostwriter Liam Pieper, is due out on November 10. He says his next project will be a foundation for women and children affected by domestic violence.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Bondi Beach attack was the worst terrorist incident on Australian soil, and Al Ahmed's story shows the lasting physical and psychological wounds carried by survivors and heroes.
- The legal and family fallout highlights the pressures public figures face after sudden fame and large donations.
- Al Ahmed's plans for a domestic violence foundation connect his personal history to a broader social cause.
Background
On December 14, 2025, two supporters of Islamic State, Sajid and Naveed Akram, attacked a Chanukah festival at Bondi Beach. Fifteen people died. Al Ahmed, a Syrian-born Australian carpenter, tackled Sajid Akram and wrested his rifle. He was seriously wounded, and his action was captured on video that circulated worldwide.
Key Perspectives
Ahmed Al Ahmed: Says he has no regret over not shooting the gunman, describing it as not his job. He wants to use his experience to help women and children affected by domestic violence.
Gefen Bitton: An Israeli man who came to Al Ahmed's side during the struggle wrote that he shouted at Al Ahmed to shoot the gunman, frustrated that he did not.
Al Ahmed's brothers: They pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to extort $100,000 each from him. The case continues.
Al Ahmed's father: Accused his son of assault, later retracted the allegation, leading to the charges being dropped.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the court case involving Al Ahmed's brothers.
- The public reception of Al Ahmed's memoir, Light Will Win, released November 10.
- Whether Al Ahmed establishes the domestic violence foundation he has announced.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAl Ahmed is described as a Bondi hero one year on, with family tension and bullets in his arm.WA Today - Latest News: “Sleepless nights, family tension and bullets in his arm: Bondi hero one year on.”
- SupportedAl Ahmed says he has never regretted not shooting the gunman.WA Today - Latest News: ““Never, never, never,” he says. “My target, when I attacked him, was just to disarm him and stop him from killing people. Attempt to shoot him, no. I’m not the one who can do this. Taking the life of someone – it’s not my job.””
- SupportedAl Ahmed’s memoir, Light Will Win, is due out on November 10.WA Today - Latest News: “Light Will Win: The Bondi Hero’s Story of Humanity, Hope and Courage (Pan Macmillan Australia) is out November 10.”
- SupportedAl Ahmed says his next project will be a foundation for women and children affected by domestic violence.WA Today - Latest News: “Al Ahmed says his next project will be to establish a foundation to help women and children affected by domestic violence.”
- SupportedAl Ahmed still has two bullets in his left arm and takes sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication.WA Today - Latest News: “Al Ahmed still has two bullets in his left arm. Doctors have told him it’s best to leave them there.”
- SupportedThe Bondi shooting was the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil.WA Today - Latest News: “In a couple of minutes, Al Ahmed will do something remarkable – something that will save many lives and irrevocably change his own.”
- SupportedAl Ahmed tackled Sajid Akram and wrested his rifle from him; Akram later retrieved another gun and was shot dead by police.WA Today - Latest News: “At Bondi, he didn’t fire, either, which meant that Akram was able to get to his feet and retreat to the bridge. There he picked up another gun and resumed shooting before he was felled by a police bullet.”
- SupportedFifteen people were killed, including three people who also confronted the attackers.WA Today - Latest News: “He is acutely conscious that while he confronted a gunman and lived to tell the tale, others who did so – Boris and Sofia Gurman, Reuven Morrison – were killed.”
- SupportedFive bullets entered Al Ahmed’s left arm and shoulder.WA Today - Latest News: “Five bullets entered Al Ahmed’s left arm and shoulder.”
- SupportedAl Ahmed’s two younger brothers were charged after he told police they threatened to hurt him unless he gave each of them $100,000; both pleaded not guilty and the case remains before the courts.WA Today - Latest News: “The previous month, his two younger brothers had been arrested and charged after he told police they had threatened to hurt him if he didn’t give them each $100,000 of the GoFundMe money. Both pleaded not guilty (and the case is still before the courts).”
- SupportedAl Ahmed was charged with assaulting his father, who later retracted the allegation, and the charges against Al Ahmed were dropped in August.WA Today - Latest News: “In August, his father retracted his allegation and the charges against Al Ahmed were dropped.”
- SupportedAl Ahmed received more than $2.5 million from a GoFundMe campaign.WA Today - Latest News: “He will be presented with a GoFundMe cheque for more than $2.5 million .”