Australia - Mass shooting at Bondi Beach Hanukkah Celebration - 14 Dec 2025

[BrianJohnson]

The Bondi hero who tackled one of the gunmen and took control of his weapon (43-year old Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner and father of two) has come out of his first surgery and recovering from injuries.

Make no mistake, this man is a national hero. The typical Australian response would be to ensure this man never has to pay for his own beer for the rest of his life.

However, given Ahmed is Muslim and may not drink alcohol, I’m sure we will find another way to celebrate him! X

Whatever is the Australian equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom he should get, given Australia is in the commonwealth there should be a strong case for giving him a knighthood too, saved maybe dozens of lives and put himself in harms way to do it

 

[iamshadow21]

Whatever is the Australian equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom he should get, given Australia is in the commonwealth there should be a strong case for giving him a knighthood too, saved maybe dozens of lives and put himself in harms way to do it

We don't do knighthood/dames any more.

There are several levels of civilian bravery awards.

https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-bravery-decorations

I don't know which he'd qualify for, but I doubt it would be the Cross of Valour, it's only been awarded five times since its creation in 1975.

MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

The GoFund me for him is up to over $1 million now! I'm sure he'll be able to buy whatever drinks he enjoys for the rest of his life with it

There is a billionaire (Bill Ackman, an investment banker of the Jewish faith) who requested that a verified fund be set up so he could reward Ahmed al Ahmed.

I wonder if he has donated a significant amount.

Billionaire makes offer of reward to hero who disarmed evil Bondi terrorist

 

[MrsAddick]

Whatever is the Australian equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom he should get, given Australia is in the commonwealth there should be a strong case for giving him a knighthood too, saved maybe dozens of lives and put himself in harms way to do it

Absolutely!! Also strongly support the suggestion of a knighthood.
<modsnip: off topic>

 

[SouthAussie]

"Sydney Muslim leaders say they will refuse to perform Islamic funeral rites or receive the bodies of the Bondi terrorists as they condemn the event as a “barbaric and criminal act”.

“What they have done is not condoned by any of us and it is killing innocent civilians. We know it is a verse in our book, killing an innocent civilian is the same as killing all humanity,” he said.

Currently, only the older shooter has been confirmed dead. His son remains in hospital."

Sydney Muslims refuse funeral rites for Bondi massacre attackers

 

[Yh5r]

There is a billionaire (Bill Ackman, an investment banker of the Jewish faith) who requested that a verified fund be set up so he could reward Ahmed al Ahmed.

I wonder if he has donated a significant amount.

Billionaire makes offer of reward to hero who disarmed evil Bondi terrorist

He has donated $99,999 to it

 

[MrsAddick]

We don't do knighthood/dames any more.

There are several levels of civilian bravery awards.

https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-bravery-decorations

I don't know which he'd qualify for, but I doubt it would be the Cross of Valour, it's only been awarded five times since its creation in 1975.

MOO

Oh, I didn’t realise that!

Did we stop after Tony’s infamous ‘captain’s call’? Haha

 

[SouthAussie]

"The son was not on a watch list, Albanese said, adding that he was investigated because of his connections with two people who both subsequently went to jail. There was no clear evidence in 2019 that the man had been radicalised.

Speaking to ABC TV’s 7.30, the prime minister said the “clear advice” that intelligence authorities had given him was that there was “no evidence of collusion; there’s no evidence that these people were part of a cell”

******************************
The crowd has fallen silent after an earlier round of traditional Hanukah songs and a rendition of Advance Australia Fair. Lit candles are starting to form a perimeter around the hundreds of colourful bouquets placed in an ever-growing circle."

Bondi beach shooting live updates: Anthony Albanese says ‘no evidence’ alleged shooters were part of a cell; mourners gather at site of attack as floral tribute grows

Father and son identified as alleged shooters in attack that killed at least 15 people

www.theguardian.com

 

[iamshadow21]

Oh, I didn’t realise that!

Did we stop after Tony’s infamous ‘captain’s call’? Haha

We stopped in 1986, with the exception of that aberration (2014-2015).

Australia drops knights and dames from honours system

Australia will no longer appoint knights and dames under its honours system, PM Malcolm Turnbull announces, saying the titles are "not appropriate".

www.bbc.com

 

[Serononin]

Assuming that she didn't know anything about their plans prior, I deeply feel for this mother.

It would be so confusing and heartbreaking to find out the child you thought you knew so well had become mass murderer and terrorist. She must be absolutely reeling right now

MOO.

I also don't want to pick apart her specific word choices too much until we know more, as she may not be a native English speaker

 

[Serononin]

May your memory be a blessing, Matilda.

Live: Premier says Bondi Beach shooting will bring 'overwhelming' response

Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl. One of two alleged gunmen has also died, while a further 42 people were taken to hospital. Follow live.

www.abc.net.au

View attachment 630675

Such a sweet, heartbreaking photo. I wonder if dolphins were her favourite animal?

 

[iamshadow21]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

(@thebondilifeguardsofficial is exactly what it sounds like, and this post was cross posted to that account.)

If my knowledge of geography is correct, he is running down the hill to the beach from south to north. Barefoot. On asphalt. In summer. From the next beach down.

I know these guys do pretty much their whole jobs barefoot, but his feet must have been absolutely raw by the time he reached the scene. It's almost a kilometre and very hilly.

MOO

 

[Yellowbelly]

We don't do knighthood/dames any more.

There are several levels of civilian bravery awards.

https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-bravery-decorations

I don't know which he'd qualify for, but I doubt it would be the Cross of Valour, it's only been awarded five times since its creation in 1975.

MOO

Looking at those from a British perspective, the Cross of Valour would be the equivalent of the George Cross and the Star of Courage, the George Medal. The VC/CV/GC is only awarded if what you do is so insanely brave that you get killed in the process, or it was incredibly likely that you should have died, but survived. Hence, most acts of civilian bravery tend to peak at the SC/GM level.

 

[Marantz4250b]

Looking at those from a British perspective, the Cross of Valour would be the equivalent of the George Cross and the Star of Courage, the George Medal. The VC/CV/GC is only awarded if what you do is so insanely brave that you get killed in the process, or it was incredibly likely that you should have died, but survived. Hence, most acts of civilian bravery tend to peak at the SC/GM level.

The VC is a purely military award. Civilians don't get it. It's also basically a wartime only award as it must be for acts carried out "in the face of the enemy" or similar words.

The George Cross is the closest civilian award.

 

[SouthAussie]

Naveed Akram had been investigated for about 6 months in 2019. A fairly longish time period.
His association with people who were jailed (for what crime?) must have warranted it. imo


When asked about the younger shooter, named by local media as Naveed Akram, Albanese confirms that he was not part of a counter terrorism watchlist.

He says the alleged attacker was investigated in 2019 over his connections to two people who were subsequently jailed.

The six-month investigation found no evidence of the attacker planning or considering any act of violence or antisemitism, Albanese says.

Police investigating Bondi gunmen's trip to Philippines month before shooting

Fifteen people - including a 10-year-old girl and a British-born rabbi - were killed when two gunmen targeted Jewish people attending a Hanukkah event.

www.bbc.com

 

[SouthAussie]

• The Australian broadcaster ABC reports Naveed Akram, who is an Australian-born citizen, was examined over his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell
• ABC also reports that counter terrorism police believe the gunmen had pledged allegiance to the IS terrorist group
• Police believe the gunmen had prepared for the attack at a short-term rental property around a 30-minute drive from Bondi Beach.

Police investigating Bondi gunmen's trip to Philippines month before shooting

Fifteen people - including a 10-year-old girl and a British-born rabbi - were killed when two gunmen targeted Jewish people attending a Hanukkah event.

www.bbc.com

 

[RichardKimble]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

I think guns are secondary, the question is why did the dad and son hate the Jews so much that they needed to go out and shoot them.

 

[CooperDyl]

The VC is a purely military award. Civilians don't get it. It's also basically a wartime only award as it must be for acts carried out "in the face of the enemy" or similar words.

The George Cross is the closest civilian award.

We have a VC equivalent for non-combat, called The Cross of Valor (CV).
Its description is “acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril”. Hard to imagine this wouldn’t qualify.
Alternately, we also have The Star of Courage (SC), for “conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril”.

I don’t believe the George Cross is awarded anymore, though perhaps in a circumstance it may be. Looks like it was last awarded in Australia in 1978.

 

[Marantz4250b]

We have a VC equivalent for non-combat, called The Cross of Valor (CV).
Its description is “acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril”. Hard to imagine this wouldn’t qualify.
Alternately, we also have The Star of Courage (SC), for “conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril”.

It probably would qualify. My point was merely that the VC is a military award only.

 

[SouthAussie]

I think guns are secondary, the question is why did the dad and son hate the Jews so much that they needed to go out and shoot them.

It is part of the ISIS ideology.

(As quoted several posts above)

• The Australian broadcaster ABC reports Naveed Akram, who is an Australian-born citizen, was examined over his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell
• ABC also reports that counter terrorism police believe the gunmen had pledged allegiance to the IS terrorist group