Horrific images are being shared on social media from the mass shooting at Bondi Beach.
A video clip shows a man in a white shirt, identified by Australian 7 News as 43-year-old greengrocer Ahmed al-Ahmed, sneaking up on the shooter and throwing himself at him with a neck grab from behind.
A commotion ensues and after a seven-second struggle, al-Ahmed manages to wrest the rifle from the hands of the alleged perpetrator, who falls to the ground.
He came up behind a car and surprised him and took the weapon from him, says Tom Madigan, who saw the dramatic scenes.
Was shot
al-Ahmed then points the weapon at the disarmed perpetrator and pushes him away.
About ten meters away, on a footbridge, another man dressed in black stands firing a rifle. He crouches down and waves to his unarmed companion to join him, while shots are exchanged with the police.
"We saw another guy throw a bottle, that guy got shot. It happened right in front of our eyes, it was scary," says Tom Madigan of the dramatic seconds.
Saved many
The 43-year-old greengrocer, now being hailed in Australia for his heroic efforts, places the shotgun against a tree and takes cover while police disarm and neutralize the shooters.
Ahmed al-Ahmed was also shot and is being treated in hospital, a man named Mustafa, who claims to be his cousin, tells 7 News.
"That man is a true hero, and I have no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight thanks to his courage," said state Premier Chris Minns at a press conference after the attack.
Corrected: In an earlier version, a quote from the press conference was attributed to the wrong person.
