Hero Refugee Who Prevented Further Bloodshed in Sydney's Bondi Beach Attack Faces Uncertain Immigration Status

At least 15 people lost their lives in the Sydney's Bondi Beach attack.

New Delhi:

A courageous act by an unarmed civilian helped prevent further casualties during the deadly shooting incident at Sydney's Bondi Beach. The brave individual, who kicked a weapon away from one of the assailants, is reportedly a Middle Eastern refugee who has lived in Australia for almost ten years but still lacks a guaranteed path to permanent residency despite having an Australian family.

Police have classified the violent incident, which claimed at least 15 lives, as a terrorist attack. Authorities believe it was a targeted antisemitic assault on people gathered to celebrate Hanukkah.

Video footage captured the civilian approaching a pedestrian bridge near the attack site moments after gunshots were heard. One attacker was lying wounded on the ground. The man carefully approached, kicked a rifle out of reach, then backed away with raised hands, shouting "don't shoot" as police officers rushed to secure the area.

The alleged attackers, identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, had recently relocated to an Airbnb in Campsie, closer to Bondi Beach. Sajid was fatally shot by police at the scene, while Naveed sustained critical injuries and was taken into custody. Police subsequently conducted raids, briefly detaining three individuals who were later released.

In the chaotic aftermath, the unarmed civilian was fired upon by police and then assaulted by bystanders who mistakenly believed he was one of the attackers. He was punched by the public and forced to defend himself until police intervened, pushing through the crowd to stop the attacks.

According to The Australian, the man has been identified by his lawyer as a Middle Eastern refugee who has resided in Australia for nearly a decade. Despite having an Australian wife and children, he remains on a temporary visa with no clear pathway to permanent residency.

Alison Battisson, the immigration lawyer representing him, explained that her client arrived at Bondi Beach just as the shooting commenced. "He got out of a taxi, heard the shooting, other people ran away and he ran towards the sound of the shooting," she stated.

Battisson noted that her client's background in a country where military service is common gave him an intuitive understanding of shooter behavior.

"He knew that the shooter would have to reload, so he gradually worked his way towards the bridge," she explained.

The lawyer emphasized that her client's legal status in Australia remains unresolved. "He's got an Australian partner and Australian children but he has no right to stay in Australia long term to be with them," she said.

"It's open to public opinion as to whether somebody who put himself in significant danger to help the Australian community has earned a right to stay in Australia."

Another civilian hero emerged from the incident—43-year-old Ahmed el Ahmed, who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers. Ahmed, a Syrian-born fruit seller and father of two young daughters, was shot twice and is currently recovering in hospital.