The bystander who tackled one of the gunmen in the attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney was seriously injured, according to Australian officials, who on Monday identified him as Ahmed el Ahmed.
Mr. el Ahmed’s intervention was caught on video and ricocheted across social media after the shootings. His actions garnered wide praise as Australia has been left reeling from one of the worst terrorist attacks in its history and Jews around the world are increasingly fearful of antisemitic attacks.
“At the best of times, what we see is Australians coming together,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a news conference, referring to the risks that Mr. el Ahmed took to fight the gunman.
Mr. Albanese said that Mr. el Ahmed had been hospitalized with a “serious injury.”
Mr. el Ahmed is an Australian citizen who immigrated from Syria in 2006 and owns a fruit shop, his parents told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. His parents said that Mr. el Ahmed had been having coffee with a friend near the beach when he heard gunshots.
In the video of his intervention, which has been verified by The New York Times, Mr. el Ahmed was seen crouching up on one of the gunmen, who was standing behind a palm tree and firing into a crowd of people who had gathered on Sunday to celebrate Hanukkah.
Mr. el Ahmed approached the gunman from behind, then tackled him, grabbing the gun and then pointing it at the assailant.
Chris Minns, the premier of the state of New South Wales, said Mr. el Ahmed had “saved countless lives.” In a picture that Mr. Minns posted on social media, Mr. el Ahmed is in a hospital bed with a bandaged arm, but he looks alert and appears to be partially upright and speaking.
Mr. el Ahmed’s bravery provided some solace for Australians at a difficult moment.
At St. George Hospital, where Mr. el Ahmed was being treated, Talia Gill and her 10-year-old daughter, Georgie, said in an interview that they were leaving gifts and a letter for him. The attack struck close to home for Ms. Gill, who is Jewish and who had friends who were in Bondi when the shooting occurred.
Georgie said she wanted to tell Mr. el Ahmed: “Thank you so much for saving all those people you didn’t even know.” She added: “You’re probably the kindest person ever.”
Yan Zhuang contributed reporting from Sydney, Australia.
Amelia Nierenberg is a Times reporter covering international news from London.
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