Ahmed al Ahmed, the man hailed as a hero after bravely disarming a gunman during Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades, has become a symbol of pride in his hometown in Syria.
“His act is a source of pride for us and for Syria,” Ahmed’s uncle, Mohammed, a farmer, told AFP from the town of Al-Nayrab.
Ahmed, a fruit seller and father of two, migrated from Syria to Australia in 2007, according to his 60-year-old uncle.
On Sunday, the 44-year-old drew global attention after confronting one of the attackers at a crowded Jewish festival marking the beginning of Hanukkah.
The assault claimed 15 lives, and Ahmed himself was shot several times in the shoulder during the struggle to wrestle the weapon from the assailant.
His uncle said he first learned of the incident through social media, where a video of the dramatic moment spread rapidly online.
“I suspected that this was my nephew, so I called his father and he confirmed to me that Ahmed was the one who took the weapon,” he said.
The footage showed Ahmed weaving between parked cars as gunfire rang out, before grabbing the gun from the attacker’s hands.
“This incident caused a global sensation. He is from Syria, and he is a Muslim, and he had no motivation for doing this other than heroism and bravery,” Mohammed added.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told national broadcaster ABC that the attack appeared to be “motivated by Islamic State ideology”.
He praised Ahmed during a hospital visit, describing his actions as “his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians”.
An online fundraising campaign has since attracted more than Aus$1.9 million ($1.2 million) to help cover Ahmed’s medical expenses.
According to Mohammed, Ahmed left Al-Nayrab for Australia in 2007, initially working in construction before eventually opening a fruit and vegetable shop in Sydney.
His parents had travelled to Australia more than two months ago and were still visiting at the time of the shooting.
Back in Al-Nayrab, a town heavily bombed during Syria’s long conflict, Ahmed’s grandmother prayed quietly in her modest home.
“May God be pleased with him and grant him success,” she said.
Located in Idlib province, much of which slipped from the control of former ruler Bashar al-Assad early in the war, Al-Nayrab is now slowly rebuilding after Assad’s ouster in 2024.
Ahmed’s name, residents said, was being spoken everywhere.
His own house stands abandoned, its doors and windows missing, and the roof still scarred by wartime bombing.
“We are proud of what Ahmed, the son of our village, did… his act was heroic and no one else could have done it,” said Abdul Rahman al-Mohammed, 30, as he worked in his tyre repair shop.
He praised Ahmed for saving “innocent lives” by stopping the attack and prayed for his recovery.
Nearby, as he arranged boxes of apples outside his home, Ahmed’s longtime friend Youssef al-Ali recalled the evenings they once spent together before Ahmed left Syria.
“When I saw on Facebook that he was injured, I was very upset, but his was a heroic act, may God heal his wounds,” the 45-year-old told AFP.
“He has always been brave, a man of principle.”
What you should know
Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-born fruit seller living in Australia, risked his life to disarm a gunman during a deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, saving lives despite being shot.
His bravery has drawn international praise, including from Australia’s prime minister, and sparked a major fundraising effort for his medical care.
In his war-scarred hometown of Al-Nayrab, Syria, residents see his actions as a rare moment of pride and hope, highlighting courage that transcends religion, nationality and conflict.
