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A mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Saturday left at least 16 people dead and 29 wounded when two gunmen opened fire during what authorities have characterized as an attack targeting Jewish Australians during Hanukkah celebrations. The assault at one of Australia's most iconic coastal destinations represents one of the deadliest mass casualty events in the country in recent decades.
A 43-year-old greengrocer emerged as a central figure in witness accounts after he charged at one of the attackers from behind and wrestled away a hunting rifle despite being shot twice during the confrontation. Ahmed el Ahmed, a father of two with no prior firearms training, was hospitalized and scheduled for surgery Saturday night following his intervention, which witnesses and officials suggest may have prevented additional casualties.
One suspect died during the incident, while a second injured suspect was taken into custody, according to authorities. Two police officers were among the 29 people wounded in the attack at the New South Wales coastal location.
Video footage capturing el Ahmed's actions has circulated widely on Australian social media platforms, showing the moment he approached the armed attacker at a run before physically engaging to disarm him. His cousin Mustafa confirmed to 7News at the hospital that el Ahmed had been shot twice during the confrontation but managed to remove the rifle from the gunman.
Australian media outlets and public discourse have focused heavily on the greengrocer's quick response during the chaotic scene. Members of the public have characterized his actions as heroic, with footage showing him tackling the gunman and seizing the weapon.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the shooting at a press conference, stating that the attack appeared to target Jewish Australians. The timing during Hanukkah celebrations has raised questions about the motives behind the assault at the beach location.
Türkiye's Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning what it characterized as a terror attack, expressing condolences to the families of those killed and to the Australian people. "As Türkiye, we reiterate our principled stance against all forms and manifestations of terrorism and our commitment to cooperation in combating this global threat," the ministry said in its December 14 statement.
Representatives of Australia's Muslim community also issued statements condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with those affected by the shooting and their families.
Australia has maintained relatively strict firearms regulations since implementing major gun control reforms following a 1996 mass shooting in Tasmania. The country's gun laws require licensing, registration, and restrict certain categories of weapons, contributing to lower rates of gun violence compared to other developed nations.
Mass casualty events remain rare in Australia, making attacks of this scale particularly shocking to the public and prompting intensive law enforcement responses. The use of a hunting rifle in a densely populated beach area during what appeared to be a coordinated attack by two gunmen represents an unusual incident for the country.
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