In the wake of Sunday’s terrorist attack in Bondi, stories have emerged about the people who jumped into action during the rampage.
Video of Sydney man Ahmed al-Ahmed disarming one of the alleged shooters quickly went viral. He is recovering in hospital after being shot in the arm five times.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Ahmed “a true Australian hero.”
The 43-year-old isn’t the only person who put himself in danger.
Here’s what we know about the other people who tried to stop the attack.
The Gurmans
Russian-Jewish couple Boris and Sofia Gurman were walking along Campbell Parade on Sunday when Sajid Akram, alleged to be one of the gunmen, emerged from a parked car with a gun.
Dashcam footage published by Nine shows 69-year-old Boris tackling Sajid to the ground and forcing the weapon from his hands.
Additional footage shows the Gurmans died holding each other.
Boris was a retired mechanic and Sofia worked for Australia Post.
The husband and wife had been married for 34 years.
In a statement to media, the Gurman family said: “Boris and Sofia were devoted to their family and to each other.”
In regard to their actions at Bondi, the family said: “This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were — people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.
Reuven Morrison
As the attackers opened fire on the Chanukah event, 62-year-old Reuven Morrison was seen throwing bricks at Sajid Akram.
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Despite being unarmed, Morrison charged at the alleged shooters. He died protecting his community.
His daughter Sheina Gutnick told U.S. channel CBS News: “if there was one way for him to go on this earth, it would be fighting a terrorist. There was no other way he would be taken from us. He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved most.”
Morrison emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Australia in the 1970s.
He was a businessman, philanthropist and member of Hasidic Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne.
In a 2024 interview with the ABC, Morrison said: “We came here with the view that Australia is the safest country in the world and the Jews would not be faced with such antisemitism in the future, where we can bring up our kids in a safe environment.”
Jessica Rozen
When the shooting began, Jessica Rozen noticed a little girl screaming, and lay on top of her to shield her from the bullets.
Video published by The Guardian shows Rozen whispering “I got you” repeatedly to the girl as shots rang out. She and the child both survived the attack.
Speaking to The Guardian afterwards, she said: “We’re a community of peace, and we were just eating donuts with our kids and celebrating light. No one deserves this.”
Police officers
NSW Police officers were responsible for killing one of the attackers and disabling the other.
Two officers, Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, were seriously injured in the shooting.
They remain in hospital. Following multiple surgeries, Hibbert has lost sight in one eye.
NSW Premier Chris Minns commended the officers, saying they had acted with “bravery and integrity.”
