Bondi Beach shooting: millions raised for ‘hero of Australia’ who stopped gunman
Over 40,000 people have donated about US$1.5 million to Ahmed al Ahmed, the Syrian-Australian Muslim hero who saved Jewish lives
Soon al Ahmed was creeping, bent over, between two parked cars, before barrelling directly towards one of the unsuspecting shooters. In footage that has been viewed millions of times around the world, the 44-year-old father can be seen tackling one of the gunmen, wrestling the man’s shotgun from his grip and turning it on the attacker.
The story of the Syrian-Australian Muslim shop owner who put an end to the rampage of one of the shooters on Sunday has been seized upon by a country desperately seeking comfort after one of its darkest hours: the slaying of 15 people as they celebrated their Jewish faith.
Millions have been raised for Bondi hero
A fundraising page established by Australians who had never met al Ahmed had attracted by Tuesday night donations from some 40,000 people, who gave A$2.3 million (US$1.5 million). Among the supporters was the billionaire hedge fund manager William Ackman, who pledged A$99,000.
Father of two faces a long recovery
Al Ahmed, who is married with two young daughters, faces a long struggle ahead, those who have spoken to him since Sunday’s massacre say. He was shot multiple times in the left arm, apparently by the second gunman in the attack as the man fired indiscriminately from a footbridge.