Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Ahmed al-Ahmed in hospital. (Screengrab/X/@AlboMP)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Ahmed al-Ahmed in hospital, praising the bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the Bondi Beach attackers as “the best of our country”.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, 44, was shot several times in the shoulder after confronting the gunman during Sunday’s attack in Sydney. He remains in hospital and is due to undergo further surgery.
“He is a true Australian hero. He’s very humble,” Albanese said after spending nearly half an hour with him.
Ahmed, you are an Australian hero.
You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist.
In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians. And that's exactly what we saw on Sunday night.
In a message shared by the prime minister on social media, Albanese said: “Ahmed, you are an Australian hero. You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist. In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians.”
Albanese told reporters that Ahmed had simply been going about his day when the shooting began. “He was trying to get a cup of coffee, simple as that, and found himself in a moment where people were being shot in front of him,” he said. “He decided to take action.”
Ahmed, a Syrian-born shopkeeper, also spoke briefly from hospital in a video shared by Turkey’s public broadcaster TRT World, thanking supporters and asking for prayers. “I went through a very difficult phase, only Allah knows it,” he said.
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, also visited Ahmed at St George hospital in Sydney’s south, thanking him on behalf of the public and King Charles, who she said had asked after him. She said Ahmed was likely to receive a bravery award and had already been nominated several times.
Ahmed, who was born in Syria, came to Australia in 2006. (Photo: X/ Chris Minns)
New South Wales premier Chris Minns visited Ahmed on Monday night, while former prime minister John Howard also praised his actions, calling them an example of courage and community spirit.
A fundraising appeal set up to support Ahmed has raised more than $2m, The Guardian reported.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Ahmed al-Ahmed in hospital. (Screengrab/X/@AlboMP) 
