Greengrocer shop owner hailed hero after tackling gunman who shot at Hanukkah celebration in Australia

The owner of a fruit store who risked his life to disarm one of the gunmen during a antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, is being hailed as a hero for his actions.

Authorities said two gunmen, a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son, killed at least 15 people and wounded many more during a hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s famous beach. The gunman, 50, was also killed and the 24-year-old was hospitalized in a “serious condition,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.

Following Sunday’s fatal shooting, videos emerged on social media showing a man crouching behind a car parked on Campbell Parade, a main street parallel to Bondi Beach. A video shows him jumping and attacking one of the suspects, who had just fired his gun at something out of sight.

The man, whom local Australian media identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit seller, then takes the gun from him and points it at the gunman, who backs away.

Local media 7News reported that Al Ahmed suffered two gunshot wounds.

The outlet spoke to a man named Mustapha, who said he was his cousin.

“He’s in the hospital and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” he said.

“We hope he’s okay. He’s 100% a hero,” she said.

Shocking footage of the encounter has gone viral and Ahmed was praised online for his bravery and quick thinking in saving lives, with many people saying he probably saved several lives.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns praised Al Ahmed as a “genuine hero”.

“In all this evil, in all this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians who are willing to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,” Minns said at a news conference on Sunday night.

US President Trump, during an event at the White House on Sunday, said the man’s actions “saved many lives.”

“It was actually a very, very brave person who attacked one of the shooters head-on and saved many lives,” Trump said, adding that the man “is in the hospital right now, pretty seriously injured.”