Bondi Beach: Bondi gunmen driven by extremism, says Australian PM, as witnesses recall ‘bullets flying’ on beach
‘He made us proud’ and ‘acted out of pure conscience’, hero bystander’s family tells BBCpublished at 12:22 GMT
Abdelrahman Abutaleb
BBC News Arabic
Image source, Mohamed KfarnabelImage caption,
Mohamed Ahmed al Ahmed, the uncle of Ahmed al Ahmed
Ahmed al Ahmed, the bystander who disarmed one of the gunmen during the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, acted out of “pure conscience and humanity,” his family tells BBC News Arabic.
His father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, says his son did not hesitate when he saw people being attacked.
“Ahmed was driven by his sentiment, conscience and humanity when he rushed forward, stopped the gunman, and snatched his weapon,” he says.
He adds that Ahmed had been nearby “by coincidence,” having gone out with a friend for coffee, when he encountered the scene.
“He saw the victims, the blood, women and children lying on the street, and then acted,” his father says.
According to the family, Ahmed’s condition is stable, and he is awaiting further medical treatment for gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hand sustained during the attack.
Image source, FACEBOOK/CHRIS MINNSImage caption,
Ahmed al Ahmed, pictured here in a hospital bed, received a visit from New South Wales Premier Chris Minns earlier
In Syria, where Ahmed was born and raised, his uncle Mohamed Ahmed al Ahmed tells BBC Arabic that the family felt immense pride.
“He made us proud, our village, Syria, all Muslims and the entire world,” he says.
