He has run the Cigara tobacconist and specialist convenience store in Sutherland, in Sydney’s southern suburbs, since 2021. 

Mr Al-Ahmed’s mother has said she couldn’t stop crying when she found out her son was the hero who had saved countless lives at Bondi Beach. 

‘He saw they were dying, and people were losing their lives, and when that guy [the shooter] ran out of ammo, he took it from him, but he was hit. We pray that God saves him.’ 

His father Muhammad Fateh al-Ahmed said the religion of those injured, Jewish worshippers celebrating Chanukkah, was irrelevant to his son, who is Muslim. 

‘When he did what he did, he wasn’t thinking about the background of the people he’s saving, the people dying in the street,’ he told reporters. ‘

He doesn’t discriminate between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there’s no difference between one citizen and another.’ 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns said the heroism provided some hope in a time of darkness.

‘We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,’ Albanese told reporters.

One woman is seen leaving the scene with her child in an emergency blanket  

Minns said Mr Al-Ahmed was a ‘genuine hero’ at a press conference late on Sunday, adding there was ‘no doubt’ he saved many lives.

‘I think it’s worth remembering that in all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,’ he said.

Mr Al-Ahmed even received praise for his actions from US President Donald Trump.

‘In Australia, as you’ve probably read, there’s been a very, very brave person who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters. He saved a lot of lives, a very brave person who is right now in the hospital, pretty seriously wounded. I have great respect for the man who did that.’  

A GoFundMe campaign for Mr Al-Ahmed has so far raised close to a $2million,  including $100,000 from US billionaire Bill Ackman.