Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed al Ahmed recalled the moment he ran towards one of the attackers and wrestled the gun from him, saying in an interview published Monday with a US outlet he wanted to protect “innocent people”.<\/p>\n
Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14, killing 15 people and wounding dozens in what authorities have described as an antisemitic terrorist attack.<\/p>\n
Despite the tragedy, tales of heroism emerged of those who tried to stop the two gunmen during their deadly rampage.<\/p>\n
Among them was Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit seller, who went viral for ducking between parked cars as the shooting unfolded and then wresting a gun from one of the assailants.<\/p>\n
“My target was just to take the gun from him, and to stop him from killing a human being’s life and not killing innocent people,” he told CBS News in an interview that airs Monday.<\/p>\n
“I know I saved lots, but I feel sorry for the lost.”<\/p>\n
Ahmed was shot several times in the shoulder after tussling with one of the gunmen and underwent several rounds of surgery.<\/p>\n
He recalled the moment he “jumped” on the gunman’s back, holding him with his right hand and said: “Drop your gun, stop doing what you’re doing”.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to see blood, I don’t want to hear his gun, I don’t want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help,” Ahmed told the television network.<\/p>\n
Ahmed was at the beach getting a cup of coffee when the shooting occurred.<\/p>\n
The father of two emigrated to Australia from Syria in 2007, his uncle Mohammed, a farmer, had told AFP in Ahmed’s hometown of Al-Nayrab days after the shooting.<\/p>\n
“His act is a source of pride for us and for Syria,” Mohammed said.<\/p>\n
The Australian government has fast-tracked and granted a number of visas for Ahmed’s family, local media reported.<\/p>\n
“Ahmed has shown the courage and values we want in Australia,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.<\/p>\n
One of the gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack. An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998.<\/p>\n
His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, remains in custody on charges including terrorism and 15 murders, as well as committing a “terrorist act” and planting a bomb with intent to harm.<\/p>\n
He has yet to enter a plea.<\/p>\n
lec\/dhc\/mtp<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Agence France-Presse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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