SYDNEY – A dramatic scene unfolded on a popular Australian beach as a courageous bystander, now being celebrated as a hero, intervened to disarm a gunman during a deadly shooting spree. This brave act, captured in a video that has been widely shared, likely saved numerous lives.

The compelling footage, which quickly circulated on social media, shows a man dressed in a white T-shirt and dark pants. He can be seen crouching behind a parked car before stealthily approaching the gunman from behind. In a swift and courageous move, he grapples with the assailant, successfully wresting the firearm from his grasp. The bystander then turns the weapon on the gunman, who collapses to the ground.

This remarkable act of bravery has garnered praise from many quarters, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the scene as “the most unbelievable,” commending the bystander for his selflessness and bravery.

“This man approached a gunman who had already opened fire on the community, and he managed to disarm him single-handedly. He put his own life on the line to protect countless others,” Minns remarked. “That man is a genuine hero.”

The courageous bystander has been identified as 43-year-old Ahmed Al Ahmed, as reported by 7NEWS Australia following an interview with his cousin.

He was shot twice, with wounds to his arm and hand and needed to undergo surgery, according to the cousin identified by the news outlet as Mustafa. He said his cousin is a fruit shop owner and father of two from Sydney.

“We hope he will be fine,” Mustafa said. “He’s a hero. One hundred percent, he’s a hero.”

New South Wales Police acknowledged the bystander’s actions, but could not confirm his identity. “Inquiries are continuing and we are still endeavoring to identify all involved,” police said in an e-mailed statement.

Two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and wounded dozens of others. The attack is being called an act of antisemitic terrorism.

The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular and iconic beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those episodes and Sunday’s shooting were connected. It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.