In his first interview since he disarmed one of the perpetrators during the terrorist attack on Sydney beach on December 14, the 44-year-old tobacconist now tells what he was thinking when he overpowered the terrorist:
"My goal was to take the gun from him and to stop him from killing anyone, from killing innocent people," he told CBS News.
Overpowers the terrorist
In a video that has gone viral, Al-Ahmed is seen sneaking up behind a car, pouncing on the armed shooter and tackling the gun out of his hands.
"I jumped on his back and hit him. I held him with my right hand and started saying a few words, warning him, like 'Drop your weapon, stop what you're doing,'" Al-Ahmed told CBS.
The gunman, identified as Sajid Akram, was later shot dead by police. The second gunman, Naveed Akram, Sajid Akram's son, was injured. 15 people were killed in the attack, which police say targeted Jews celebrating Hanukkah on the famous beach in central Sydney. Naveed Akram is suspected of a total of 59 crimes, including 15 murders.
Shot in the act
When Al-Ahmed saw the shooter, he had to act, he told CBS.
"I feel a force in my body, in my brain... I don't want to see people killed, I don't want to hear his guns, I don't want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help. It's my soul telling me to do it," he said.
Al-Ahmed was also shot during the commotion and remains in hospital in Sydney. He has undergone several operations but is recovering well.
Several million kronor have been raised in support of Al-Ahmed.
At 7pm local time on 14 December 2025, two terrorists threw homemade bombs that did not detonate and then opened fire on Jews celebrating Hanukkah on Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. The perpetrators were identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24. A total of 15 people were killed, including a ten-year-old girl, and around 40 people were injured in the attack.
The attack had been planned for several months and was anti-Semitic, according to Australian police. The perpetrators were influenced by the terrorist group ISIS - an ISIS flag and unexploded homemade bombs were found in their car. Sajid Akram was killed by police during the attack. His son Naveed Akram was shot and is now suspected of 59 crimes, including one terrorist act and 15 murders.
