NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: Two heroes are being praised for extraordinary acts of bravery during Sunday’s deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, when gunmen opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration and along the beachfront.
In two separate incidents, bystanders ran towards danger to disarm attackers as crowds fled in panic.
Punjabi-Sikh origin New Zealander acted ‘instinctively’
One of the men, 34-year-old Amandeep Singh Bola, was eating a kebab on the beach when gunfire erupted.
“At first, I thought it was firecrackers, but soon I saw men and women running away in fear,” he told TOI. “I started running in the direction of the gunfire.”
He said he saw police shoot one of the gunmen, later identified as Sajid Akram, on a footbridge. Bola sprinted towards the wounded man, knocked the gun away and held him until officers arrived.
“I could feel him dying under me,” he said. “I saw police shoot at one of the gunmen. I sprinted towards him, pounced upon him, and held his arms behind his back. I could feel that he was dying while I was sitting over him.”
Mobile footage shows Bola restraining Akram while officers handcuff the second suspect, Naveed Akram. A bystander approaches and kicks Sajid in the head.
Bola described the minutes after the struggle as overwhelming. “As I got up, there was a strong adrenaline rush. I felt like vomiting. People around me comforted me, that brief moment reflected the true spirit of multiculturalism.”
Asked why he ran towards gunfire, he said his actions were instinctive: “My instincts took me there. I was only thinking of helping people in whichever way I could. But once I spotted the shooter, I was focused on getting him.”
He added that he has struggled to sleep since.
Bola, whose family is originally from Punjab’s Nawanshahr district, said relatives migrated to New Zealand in the early 20th century, and he moved to Australia six or seven years ago. “We last went to Darbar Sahib Amritsar in 2019,” he said.
Fruit shop owner disarms shooter despite being wounded
Elsewhere during the attack, another civilian confronted a gunman as crowds gathered for a Chanukah By The Sea event near a playground.
Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, a fruit shop owner and father of two from southern Sydney, was walking past when shooting began.
Footage shared online shows him hiding behind cars before rushing towards one of the gunmen, tackling him and placing him in a headlock. Despite being shot twice, he managed to wrestle the shotgun away.
A towel was used to stem bleeding from his leg. His cousin Mustafa told 7News: “He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside. We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 per cent.”
The act has since gone viral on social media. According to relatives, Ahmed had no firearms training and acted purely to protect others.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the intervention “the pinnacle of Jewish heroism”.
Police say investigations into the Bondi Beach shooting and the motives of the attackers are ongoing.
The TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicat...
Read MoreThe TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicated to bringing you the pulse of cities from across the nation, all day and all night. Our mission is to curate, report, and deliver city news that matters to readers of The Times of India. With a keen focus on urban life, governance, culture, and local issues, we provide a comprehensive view of the ever-evolving cityscapes. Our team works tirelessly to keep readers informed about the latest developments, ensuring that they are connected to the heartbeat of cities across India, right when it happens. The TOI City Desk is a trusted source for staying in touch with the local stories that shape your world.
Read Less