Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday visited St. George Hospital in southern Sydney to meet Ahmed Al Ahmed, the Muslim man who stopped one of the gunmen during the deadly Bondi Beach attack that left 15 people dead.
Standing beside Al Ahmed’s hospital bed, Albanese praised the 43-year-old father of two for his extraordinary courage, calling him a symbol of national unity in the face of terror.
“Ahmed, you are an Australian hero. You put yourself at risk to save others,” Albanese wrote later on X. “In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians.”
Al Ahmed was seriously wounded after charging at one of the attackers, seizing his weapon and turning it back on him, forcing the gunman to surrender. Al Ahmed was shot multiple times and suffered injuries to his arm and shoulder. Hospital officials said his condition was stable.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Albanese warned against allowing fear or hatred to divide the country.
“This is what terrorists seek, but we will not allow our country to be divided,” he said. “We will unite, we will embrace each other, and we will get through this.”
15 killed, 41 others wounded
Police said the attack unfolded on Sunday evening along Bondi Beach when a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son opened fire on crowds. Fifteen people were killed and at least 42 others were wounded and taken to hospitals across Sydney.
One of the attackers was shot dead at the scene, while the second sustained critical injuries and remains under guard, police said. Authorities have formally classified the incident as a terrorist act and continue to investigate possible motives and connections.
The attack has shaken Australia, prompting an outpouring of tributes for the victims and for civilians like Al Ahmed who intervened to save lives. Flags were lowered in parts of Sydney, and vigils were held along the beachfront on Monday night.
Officials said additional security measures remain in place as the nation mourns and investigators work to establish how the attackers carried out the assault.
