Correction Issued on Identity of Ahmed Al Ahmed, Hero Who Disarmed Gunman in Bondi Beach Shooting

In the aftermath of Australia's deadliest mass shooting in decades, which claimed at least 15 lives during an antisemitic attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, a bystander hailed as a hero for tackling one of the gunmen has been the subject of widespread misidentification on social media.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, a man in his 40s, was captured on video rushing from behind to disarm one of the attackers amid gunfire on Sunday evening. His brave actions, widely credited with saving lives, quickly went viral, earning him praise as a hero across Australia and internationally.

However, early reports incorrectly identified him as a fruit seller from Sydney's Sutherland Shire. In reality, Al Ahmed owns and operates a tobacco and speciality convenience store, which he has run since 2021.

The misinformation spread quickly as people sought to thank the hero, with some directing messages and support to an unrelated fruit shop in southern Sydney called Sutherland Best Fresh.

The owners of Sutherland Best Fresh promptly addressed the error in a Facebook post on Monday, "So sad to see this tragedy happen this afternoon in Bondi. There has been a miscommunication on where this great Australian hero's fruit shop location is. We do not know who Ahmed is, nor the location of his fruit shop. We congratulate this hero and wish him a speedy recovery. Praying for those who have been affected."

By that time, Al Ahmed was recovering in hospital after being shot multiple times during the confrontation.

The attack occurred around 6:45 pm on Sunday at Archer Park near Bondi Beach, during the "Chanukah by the Sea" event marking the start of Hanukkah. Two gunmen, identified as a father and his 24-year-old son, opened fire on the crowd from an elevated position, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens in what authorities have declared a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes of people fleeing as shots rang out for about 10 minutes. Al Ahmed, who had been at Bondi for coffee with a friend, spotted one of the gunmen and acted instinctively.

Speaking to the media, his father, Mohamed Fateh Al Ahmed, said, "Their lives were in danger. When he saw people laying on the ground and the blood everywhere, immediately his conscience and his soul compelled him to pounce on one of the terrorists and rid him of his weapon."

Al Ahmed's actions have drawn widespread admiration, with fundraisers in his support raising significant amounts. He remains in hospital recovering from his injuries.

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