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| GO FUND ME |
19-12-2025
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than $2.5 million has been raised for Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Syrian-born Australian who tackled and disarmed an attacker during the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia that killed 15 people.
GoFundMe campaign initiator Zachery Dereniowski visited al-Ahmed in hospital on Wednesday, presenting a cheque totaling $2,533,585. “Ahmed, the world loves you,” Dereniowski wrote on Instagram.
Al-Ahmed, a Muslim father of two and fruit shop owner, was hailed as a hero after footage of him confronting the attacker went viral. He was shot twice in the arm by a second gunman during the incident.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited al-Ahmed at St George Hospital in Sydney on Tuesday, praising his bravery.
“It was a great honour to meet Ahmed al-Ahmedi. He is a true Australian hero,” Albanese said. “He represents the best of our country.”
Ahmed has also been praised by international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who described him as “a very, very brave person.”
“We’re seeing an outpouring of love for Ahmed al-Ahmed following his heroic actions at Bondi Beach,” GoFundMe said.
The attack occurred around on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration attended by about 1,000 people.
Police said the suspects were a father and son; the father was killed at the scene, while the son is being treated in hospital.
Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the shooting was a “terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.”
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - More than $2.5 million has been raised for Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Syrian-born Australian who tackled and disarmed an attacker during the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia that killed 15 people.
GoFundMe campaign initiator Zachery Dereniowski visited al-Ahmed in hospital on Wednesday, presenting a cheque totaling $2,533,585. “Ahmed, the world loves you,” Dereniowski wrote on Instagram.
Al-Ahmed, a Muslim father of two and fruit shop owner, was hailed as a hero after footage of him confronting the attacker went viral. He was shot twice in the arm by a second gunman during the incident.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited al-Ahmed at St George Hospital in Sydney on Tuesday, praising his bravery.
“It was a great honour to meet Ahmed al-Ahmedi. He is a true Australian hero,” Albanese said. “He represents the best of our country.”
Ahmed has also been praised by international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who described him as “a very, very brave person.”
“We’re seeing an outpouring of love for Ahmed al-Ahmed following his heroic actions at Bondi Beach,” GoFundMe said.
The attack occurred around on Sunday during a Hanukkah celebration attended by about 1,000 people.
Police said the suspects were a father and son; the father was killed at the scene, while the son is being treated in hospital.
Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the shooting was a “terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.”
‘Stand with each other:’ Global hero Ahmed calls for embracing humanity after Australia shooting
December 19, 2025
December 19, 2025
Ahmed al-Ahmad, a Syrian man who disarmed a gunman during a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, at the St. George Hospital where he is being treated in Sydney, Australia on December 16, 2025. [Governor-General of Australia – Anadolu Agency]
Global hero Ahmed Al Ahmed called for “forgetting everything bad” and embracing humanity in the wake of Bondi beach shooting in Australia, Anadolu reports.
“Stand with each other, all human beings,” Ahmed said in a message to people across the world who donated to him some 2.5 million Australian dollars ($1.65 million). “And forget everything bad (in the past).”
Ahmed made global headlines and won hearts across the globe for his courage after he pounced on one of the two shooters last Sunday along Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia’s largest city by population and the capital of New South Wales.
Fifteen people were killed in the attack, and one of the two shooters was shot dead while the other is critically wounded and being treated in hospital.
Ahmed’s act was hailed for saving lives.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared Syrian-born Ahmed “the best of our country.”
Ahmed, who moved to Australia in 2006 and is father of two daughters, was shot four to five times in his left shoulder and is receiving treatment at Sydney’s St. George Hospital.
Canadian social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski handed Ahmed a check of $1.65 million in public donations raised through GoFundMe on Thursday, according to a video of their meeting shared on Instagram.
“(Do) I deserve it?” Ahmed asked Dereniowski, who is also known as MDMotivator. “Every penny,” Dereniowski stressed.
Some 43,000 people made donations to support Ahmed and his family.
“Keep going to save lives,” Ahmed said in his message.
“When I… save(d) the people, I… (did) it from the heart,” Ahmed said. “Everyone was happy,” he said. “They deserve to enjoy (things). And it’s their right.”
Australia is “best country in the world,” said Ahmed, 43.
According to GoFundMe, the donations page for Ahmed saw “an outpouring of love… following his heroic actions at Bondi Beach.”
“You are an absolute hero,” Dereniowski told Ahmed, recovering in his hospital bed.
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