Man Who Tackled, Disarmed Bondi Beach Gunman Recounts Heroic Takedown

Ahmed al-Ahmed, the man who heroically tackled and disarmed one of the shooters in the Bondi Beach massacre earlier this month, is speaking out in his first interview since the deadly attack in Australia.

In an interview with CBS News, al-Ahmed — a Syrian Australian shop owner and Muslim father of two — recounted people screaming for help as two gunmen opened fire in a targeted attack on Jewish people during a Hanukkah celebration at the beach.

“My soul and all my — everything in my organs, in my body, in my brain, asked me to go … to save innocent lives,” al-Ahmed told “CBS Mornings.”

The shooting left 15 dead, including a 10-year-old child and a Holocaust survivor, and left dozens injured.

One suspect, Sajid Akram, was killed by police. The other suspect, his son Naveed Akram, has been charged with murder and terrorism.

Viral video of al-Ahmed’s act shows him creeping toward the elder Akram from behind parked cars before tackling him and swiping the gun away from his hands following a struggle. Al-Ahmed himself was shot multiple times. He’s since been released from the hospital, but said he has lost the use of his left hand.

Al-Ahmed said he “didn’t worry about anything” other than to take the gun away from Akram and prevent him from killing more people.

“I jumped in his back, hit him … hold him with my right hand, ‘Drop your gun, stop doing what you’re doing,’” recounted al-Ahmed, who noted that he knows he saved lots of people, but feels “sorry for the lost.”

He sent a message to the world: “Stop the terrorism and stop the hate.”

“Feel and love with all humanity; whatever religion, we are human beings,” he said.