This is the moment a second hero confronted the alleged Bondi Beach gunman and kicked his rifle away before being shot at by police and set upon by bystanders who mistook him for one of the shooters.
The deadly Bondi Beach terror attack killed at least 16 people on Sunday.
The dramatic footage shows a civilian sneaking onto a pedestrian bridge moments after gunmen opened fire on crowds gathered for a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach.
As one of the attackers lay wounded on the ground, the man is seen sneaking up the stairs and kicking a rifle out of reach and backing away with his hands raised, shouting ‘don’t shoot,’ as police officers continued to engage the scene.
As police fire at him, he is seen ducking down for cover. As police approach him, he backs away with his hands still raised in the air.
In the chaos that followed, the man was briefly fired upon by police and then confronted by members of the public who mistakenly believed he was one of the attackers.
He was punched and forced to defend himself. The man was then put on the ground by officers, who tried to stop others from further attacking him.
He was eventually pulled to safety as officers secured the bridge and the surrounding area. Another hero, Ahmed el Ahmed, was also seen on video wrestling a gun out of the hands of one of the alleged shooters.
The man has been identified by his lawyer as a Middle Eastern refugee who has lived in Australia for around a decade but remains on a temporary visa with no guaranteed path to permanent residency. He has an Australian wife and Australian children.
Alison Battisson, the immigration lawyer representing the hero said her client had only just arrived at Bondi Beach when he heard gunfire and ran toward it while others fled.
‘He got out of a taxi, heard the shooting, other people ran away and he ran towards the sound of the shooting,’ she said.
Despite the praise he has received, Battisson said her client’s immigration status 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.’
At least 16 people were killed in Sunday night’s mass shooting, including a ten-year-old girl, with dozens more left seriously injured.
The terrifying shooting unfolded as hundreds gathered to attend the Jewish Chanukah by the Sea event, marking the first day of Hanukkah.
The suspects were named in local media as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed, 24. They are said to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
The other hero, Ahmed el Ahmed, who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers, is also recovering in the hospital. A GoFundMe page set up on his behalf has reached more than $1million.
The Muslim man arrived in Sydney more than a decade ago from Syria. He is the father of two daughters aged five and six.
Mr Ahmed’s mother has said she couldn’t stop crying when she found out her son was the hero who had saved countless lives at Bondi Beach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns said the heroism provided some hope in a time of darkness.
‘We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,’ Albanese told reporters.
Minns said Mr Ahmed was a ‘genuine hero’ at a press conference late on Sunday, adding there was ‘no doubt’ he saved many lives.
Details have emerged of the victims of the massacre.
Matilda, 10
Matilda died on Sunday night after she was shot while at the Chanukah by the Sea event.
In an emotional post shared to social media, her aunt Lina confirmed her niece had been killed.
‘A great tragedy has happened to my family. Yesterday my beloved niece Matilda was killed during a terrorist attack in Bondi beach,’ she wrote.
‘I don’t know how we survive such grief.’
In a GoFundMe, set up by Matilda’s language teacher Irina Goodhew, the little girl was remembered as a ‘bright, joyful, and spirited child’.
‘I was Matilda’s language teacher, and I knew her as a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her,’ Ms Goodhew wrote.
‘Yesterday, while celebrating Hanukkah, her young life was tragically taken. Her memory will live on in our hearts.’
The GoFundMe has raised more than $13,800 as of 12pm on Monday, with the funds going to Matilda’s mother, Valentina Poltavchenk.
‘All donations will be transferred directly to her to support the family during this incredibly difficult time. Donations are made in loving memory of Mailda,’ Ms Goodhew wrote.
Peter Meagher
Former police officer Peter Meagher was also killed at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
After his retirement, Mr Meagher volunteered at the Randwick Rugby Club and pursued his hobby of photography.
It is understood Mr Meagher was on a photography assignment at Bondi Beach when the shooting unfolded.
In a post shared to the Support Grassroots Rugby, Mr Meagher was remembered for his selfless attitude.
‘I can’t believe the news, Peter Meagher was a manager at Randwick when I played there,’ the post read.
‘This tragedy wasn’t just a attack on the Jewish community, it’s was a attack on our nation and way of life. (sic)
‘Peter not only served our country up holding our safety and laws. He actively gave back to society through his love of our sport, giving tirelessly. R.I.P Peter my friend.’
Tibor Weitzen
Beloved father and husband Tibor Weitzen has been identified as one of the victims after he was fatally wounded while shielding his wife from the gunfire – who survived the attack.
The Daily Mail understands Mr Weitzen, whose son works as an ABC sound engineer, died after he was shot as he tried to protect his wife.
Eli Schlanger, 41
Rabbi Eli Schlanger was confirmed as one of the victims in a heartbreaking post shared to social media by his first cousin Rabbi Zalman Lewis.
Rabbi Lewis wrote: ‘My dear cousin, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was murdered in today’s terrorist attack in Sydney.
‘He leaves behind his wife, young children, as well as my uncle and aunt, and his siblings. He was truly an incredible guy.’
Rabbi Schlanger was the head of the Chabad mission in Bondi where he had served the community for nearly two decades.
The British-born father-of-five was one of the organisers for the Chanukah by the Sea event targeted by the gunmen.
Yakkov Levitan
Rabbi Yakkov Levitan has also been identified as another victim of the mass shooting.
Rabbi Levitan served as a secretary of the Sydney Beth Din and worked at the BINA Centre, according to Chabad – a global organisation based in Brooklyn dedicated to sharing the Jewish faith and traditions around the world.
While at the event, Rabbi Levitan was distributing tefillin – two small, black leather boxes containing Torah scrolls that are worn by male adult Jews committed to performing the Jewish rite.
Alex Kleytman, 87
Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman was killed while protecting his wife of almost six decades from the gunfire.
His wife Larisa told the Daily Mail her husband was shielding her from the bullets when he was fatally shot.
‘I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me, in the back of the head,’ she said.
Married for 57 years, the pair, who are also beloved grandparents, travelled from Matraville, a suburb of Sydney, to celebrate Hanukkah with other Jewish people.
Reuven Morrison
Reuven Morrison, who served as an assistant at Bondi’s Wellington Street synagogue, put himself in harm’s way after meeting his friend Vladimir at the Chanukah event.
An emotional Vladimir said he would have been caught up in the gunfire if he hadn’t needed to find parking.
‘I saw everything and now my best friend is dead. He died in front of me,’ he told the Daily Mail.
Vladimir was returning from the Chanukah celebration to sort out his car when the shooting began.
‘I was leaving. I asked Reuven about what time to turn on the Chanukah lights and then I was walking away,’ he told the Daily Mail.
‘I’d walked about 50 metres when I heard the shots and I turned around and there was a Chinese lady and her child and I said “get down!” and maybe that’s what saved me too.
‘People started running and I looked up and saw the guy shooting from the bridge above towards the Chanukah area.
‘Then there was one detective over the other side who started firing at the shooter on the ground.
‘There was more firing and then Reuven got hit. He was trying to get people to get down out of the way and then maybe disarm the shooter on the ground, he was walking towards him to fight him.
‘But then he was shot – hit in the kidneys, I think. I was there when he died.’
Dan Elkayam, 27
French Jewish man Dan Elkayam was also among the 16 people killed during the mass shooting.
The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the young man’s death on X on Monday.
He wrote that Paris feels ‘immense sadness’ at the news, and is mourning ‘with his family and loved ones, with the Jewish community and the bereaved Australian people’.
The 27-year-old had moved to Australia to work as an engineer about a year ago, the Le Parisien newspaper reported.
Mr Elkayam was an avid football player and was part of Rockdale Ilinden FC Premier League team.
The football club shared a touching tribute to Facebook on Monday, describing Mr Elkayam as a talented and popular member of the team.
‘It is with extreme shock and sadness to discover our Premier League 1 player – Dan Elkayam – was a victim of the horrendous, tragic and senseless events at Bondi Beach,’ the club wrote.
‘Dan was an integral member of our PL1 Squad in 2025 – who was an extremely talented and popular figure amongst team mates.
‘Our deepest and sincerest condolences to Dan’s family, friends and all that knew him. He will be missed. May he Rest in Peace – Memory be Eternal.’
Police officers critical
One of the officers suffered extensive injuries to his shoulder – which almost resulted in him bleeding to death – and was also shot in the stomach.
The officer was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery to stop the bleeding.
His wife, who is also a police officer and is pregnant, was informed about her husband’s critical condition and travelled from north of the state to be with him.
Another officer, who is believed to be a probationary constable, is in critical condition after he was repeatedly shot in the face.
It is understood he is being treated at an eye hospital and could lose his eye due to the severity of his injuries.
Israel citizen killed
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed an Israeli citizen was killed in the attack, while another was also injured.
‘The Israeli Embassy in Australia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department for Israelis in Distress are in contact with the family of the wounded individual, who is hospitalised at a local hospital,’ the ministry said in a statement.
‘The Israeli Consul in Australia is expected to arrive at the hospital to accompany the wounded Israeli and assist the family.’
October 7 survivor injured
Arsen Ostrovsky, an international human rights lawyer, was out with his family alongside hundreds of other people when the terror attack unfolded.
Mr Ostrovsky told the Daily Mail about his narrow survival after also living through the horrors of Hamas’s massacre at the Nova music festival in Israel.
‘I lived through October 7th. Never imagined I’d see this horror in Australia,’ he said.
‘Bullet grazed my head. Doctors said it was a miracle I survived, but I will make a recovery.’
One of the attackers was shot dead by police at the scene. The second was critically wounded and taken into custody.
Authorities later confirmed improvised explosive devices were found in the attackers’ vehicle and safely removed by bomb disposal teams.
The attack has been classified by Australian authorities as a terrorist incident, with investigators treating it as a targeted antisemitic assault.
Albanese has vowed to introduce harsher gun control laws. Australia already has one of the strictest restrictions in the world.
The alleged gunmen are said to have lived in Bonnyrigg, in New South Wales, around an hour’s drive from Bondi Beach.
The pair were there until a few weeks ago when they moved into an Airbnb in Campsie, which is closer to Bondi Beach.
According to local media, police raided their home, and three people were arrested. Those three were subsequently released.
Senior officials in the investigation told the ABC that two IS flags were found in the suspected gunmen’s car at the beach, although New South Wales police said they could not confirm the report.
It has been said that one of the alleged shooters, Naveed Akram, had been previously investigated over his close affiliation with an IS terrorism cell in Sydney.
According to Australia’s leader, he first appeared on cops’ radar in October 2019; however, ‘an assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence’.
Eyewitnesses have spoken about what they saw during the attacks.
Kobi Farkash, an Israeli tourist, told Radio 5 Live it was a ‘lovely moment’ before the alleged gunmen opened fire.
He said: ‘Suddenly, I heard boom boom boom, four or five times.’ He also described seeing someone bloodied and lying on the ground.
