Australia's renowned Bondi Beach was recently the backdrop of a horrifying incident, as a peaceful gathering of Jews celebrating the first night of Chanukah was disrupted by a brutal attack.
As reported by RedState's Rusty Weiss, video footage reveals at least two assailants targeting the crowd from a nearby footbridge. The latest updates confirm the death of 11 individuals, with another 29 suffering severe injuries. One of the attackers was reportedly killed, while the other was injured.
According to RedState, the incident took place around 6:45 p.m. local time in Archer Park, adjacent to the Bondi Pavilion. The event, known as "Chanukah by the Sea 2025," had attracted over a thousand attendees. The festive atmosphere was shattered when two armed men began firing at the crowd from a bridge.
In the midst of the horrific scene, a tale of remarkable bravery has surfaced, captured in a video that is rapidly gaining traction on social media. The footage shows a man stealthily approaching one of the gunmen who had moved from the bridge to take cover behind a tree. The unsuspecting attacker was in the midst of a shooting spree when the man seized him from behind, wrestling the rifle from his grasp.
The extended video reveals the attacker retreating towards the footbridge, where another gunman appears to be firing either at the Chanukah by the Sea 2025 attendees or at the courageous individual who had managed to disarm one of the attackers. Australian media have identified one of the terrorists as Naveed Akram.
The hero of the incident has been identified by family members as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two who operates a fruit stand in the vicinity. Al Ahmed was reportedly shot twice during the confrontation and was undergoing surgery. A relative expressed hope for his recovery, stating, We do hope he will be fine. Hes a hero 100 percent.
Reports suggest that the two gunmen were able to carry out the massacre unchallenged for up to twenty minutes. A survivor recounted, "Twenty minutes with four policemen there nobody give fire back. Nothing, like they are froze, adding, "Four policemen there didnt give fire back. I dont understand why." When asked about the targets of the gunmen, the survivor responded, "Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone. It doesnt matter."
The incident has been widely condemned as an act of terrorism, with Naveed Akram identified as a radical Islamic terrorist. Critics have urged the media not to downplay the severity of the incident, emphasizing that it is a manifestation of radical Islam.
The bravery of Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who disarmed one of the shooters, has been widely praised. However, the incident has also brought back painful memories for some survivors. Arsen Ostrovsky, who survived the October 7 horror, expressed his shock at witnessing such a horrific incident in Australia.
The incident has left a deep scar on the community, with many expressing their condolences to the families of the victims. The hope now is for the injured to recover fully and for the memories of those lost to be honored. The incident also serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and the importance of strong law enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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