SYDNEY, Australia: A fundraising campaign has been launched on social media to support a Muslim man whose extraordinary bravery helped disarm an attacker during the deadly Bondi Beach tragedy in Sydney, an act that prevented the loss of countless more lives.
“We felt compelled to act,” a message posted on a website said on Monday.
It may be recalled that a Muslim bystander who displayed extraordinary bravery by tackling and disarming a gunman during a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach has been identified as Ahmed el Ahmed, as footage of his actions spread widely on social media.
The attack occurred during a Jewish holiday event and left at least 16 people dead, according to Australian authorities.
Videos circulating on social media showed a man in a car park wearing a white shirt running up to a man in a dark shirt who is holding a rifle.
After Brown University, massive shooting was seen during the festival of Hanukkah on the Jewish people at Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia
Seen here is a brave man single handedly taking down on the shooter
Incredible pic.twitter.com/DfoFzVKYjv
— Dennis jacob (@12431djm) December 14, 2025
The footage of the bystander’s actions spread quickly on social media as people praised the man for his bravery, saying his actions had potentially saved many lives. His identity was not immediately known.
Addressing a press conference, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the actions of Australians who had “run towards danger in order to help others.
“These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives,” he said.
“In a moment of chaos and danger, he stepped forward without hesitation. His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety. Early reports indicate he was shot twice in the process while protecting others,” the GoFundMe message said.
In recognition of his bravery, a fundraising campaign has been launched to support his heroic act and help address the long-term physical and psychological impact of the traumatic event. Organisers of the fundraiser announced an initial donation of $50,000, describing it as a gesture of gratitude and an effort to encourage broader public support.
The campaign’s organisers said the response underscores the community’s appreciation for an individual whose instinctive actions in a moment of crisis helped protect lives, noting that while no one expects to be a hero, his actions proved otherwise.
Attackers’ Indian-Italian background
The gunmen have been identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24. Police earlier confirmed the attackers were father and son.
Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed Akram remains in critical condition in the hospital under police guard and is expected to face criminal charges.
As Australian investigators piece together the events behind the Bondi Beach attack, new details about the father-and-son gunmen have shifted the focus to firearms licensing, background checks, and missed warning signs.
A neighbour’s account highlighting an Indian–Italian family background and licensed gun ownership has added to scrutiny over how the attackers prepared for the assault and whether safeguards failed before the deadly incident.
“His background’s Indian and Italian… his mum’s Italian, his dad’s Indian,” the neighbour told the Australian media, recalling conversations from before the attack.
“One thing that we used to talk about was that he was licensed for firearms. I think that’s one of the things that sort of needs to be looked into.”
The comments come as investigators confirmed that two Islamic State flags were found inside the attackers’ car, one of which was visible on the bonnet in footage from the scene, according to Australia’s public broadcaster ABC. Counterterrorism police believe both attackers had pledged allegiance to IS, officials said.
Sajid Akram, and his son Naveed Akram, came from a mixed ethnic background, with neighbours describing the family as Indian–Italian, noting that the mother was Italian while the father was of Indian origin.
Sajid Akram arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted into a partner visa and subsequently a resident return visa, allowing him to remain in the country long term.
He was a licensed firearms holder, registered as a recreational hunter and a member of a gun club, with six legally owned weapons in his name — all of which have now been recovered by police.
His son, Naveed Akram, was Australian-born and had previously worked as a mason, but had been unemployed for about two months before the attack.
Australian authorities have confirmed that he first came to the attention of security agencies in 2019 due to associations with individuals under investigation.
