SYDNEY: Australians hailed on Sunday a “hero” whose daring struggle with a gunman may have saved many lives during the country’s worst mass shooting in years.
Following the shooting on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, footage emerged on social media of a man grabbing one of the gunmen as he fired on civilians.
The man then wrestles the gun out of the attacker’s hand, before pointing the weapon at the assailant who backs away.
Local outlet 7News identified him as 43-year-old Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a fruit seller, and reported he had suffered two gunshot wounds.
The outlet spoke to a man called Mustapha who said he was his cousin.
“He’s in hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” he said.
“We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 percent,” he said.
Online, Ahmed was feted for his bravery and lifesaving quick thinking.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also hailed him and others as “heroes.”
Authorities said the gunmen killed 11 and wounded many more in what police described as a “terrorist” attack targeting the Jewish community.
Australia hails ‘hero’ who stopped gunman in his tracks
https://arab.news/y6srx
Australia hails ‘hero’ who stopped gunman in his tracks
- Local outlet 7News identified him as 43-year-old Ahmed Al-Ahmed, a fruit seller, and reported he had suffered two gunshot wounds
Most of Iranian women’s soccer team leave Australia
GOLD COAST: The Iranian women’s soccer team left Australia without seven squad members after tearful protests of their departure outside Sydney Airport and frantic final efforts inside the terminal by Australian officials, who sought to ensure the women understood they were being offered asylum.
As the team’s flight time drew nearer and they passed through security late on Tuesday, each woman was taken aside to meet alone with officials who explained through interpreters that they could choose not to return to Iran.
Before the team traveled to the airport, seven women had accepted humanitarian visas allowing them to remain permanently in Australia and were ushered to a safe location by Australian police officers.
One has since changed her mind, underscoring the tense and precarious nature of their decisions.
“In Australia, people are able to change their mind,” said Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who had hours earlier posted photos of the seven women granted humanitarian visas to his social media accounts, their identities clearly visible.
After what Burke described as “emotional” meetings between the remaining women who reached the airport and Australian officials, the rest of the team declined offers of asylum and boarded their flight.
It was a dramatic conclusion to an episode that had gripped Australia since the Iranian team’s first game at the Asian Cup soccer tournament, when they remained silent during their national anthem.
