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Mass shooting by suspected Islamist extremists at Bondi Beach

(214 Posts)
Oreo Sun 14-Dec-25 10:09:56

Terrible news of a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Jewish people gathering for a celebration of Hanukkah there.One extremist gunman killed by police the other in custody.Nine people dead including a child.Police searching for possible bombs now in the area.

Casdon Mon 15-Dec-25 11:02:39

Everything I can find online suggests it was the son who had been investigated for potential ISIS links Allira, but I’d be keen to see what you saw regarding the father, because that does change the complexion somewhat?
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/crime/bondi-beach-shooting-live-suspects-akram-sydney-australia-news-b2884412.html

nanna8 Mon 15-Dec-25 11:05:16

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nanna8 Mon 15-Dec-25 11:06:22

That was meant for Wyllow

Primrose53 Mon 15-Dec-25 11:06:31

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Allira Mon 15-Dec-25 11:09:40

Casdon

Everything I can find online suggests it was the son who had been investigated for potential ISIS links Allira, but I’d be keen to see what you saw regarding the father, because that does change the complexion somewhat?
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/crime/bondi-beach-shooting-live-suspects-akram-sydney-australia-news-b2884412.html

Apologies, Casdon, I posted underneath that it was the son.
He is in hospital under police guard.

Allira Mon 15-Dec-25 11:11:19

nanna8

I agree. Just pull your head in for once. It is a hard time and especially for those of us with Jewish family members.

nanna8 a sad time for Australia, we all feel for you.

Anniebach Mon 15-Dec-25 11:40:16

nanna8 I am so distressed for you x

theworriedwell Mon 15-Dec-25 11:44:45

Was the man who wrestled the gun off one of the terrorists a Muslim? His name sounds like he probably is.

Grantanow Mon 15-Dec-25 11:45:41

The latest news suggests the murderers were in allegiance to Islamic State. This massacre of innocent civilians mirrors the murderous October attack by Hamas, both attacks on leisure activities. We must do more to protect Jewish communities and suppress those who would attack them.

Boz Mon 15-Dec-25 11:46:37

theworriedwell

Was the man who wrestled the gun off one of the terrorists a Muslim? His name sounds like he probably is.

He is of an Arabic Christian order.

Wyllow3 Mon 15-Dec-25 11:49:21

theworriedwell

Was the man who wrestled the gun off one of the terrorists a Muslim? His name sounds like he probably is.

Looks like yes. here are snippets of news on the hero updated 35 mins ago

"The parents of a "hero" bystander who wrestled a gun from one of the Bondi Beach attackers have said they are praying he recovers from his wounds.
Video verified by the BBC showed Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, running at the gunman and seizing his weapon, before turning the gun round on him and forcing his retreat.
His cousin said Mr Ahmed had since undergone surgery for gunshot wounds to his arm and hand, while his mother told local media: "We pray that God saves him."

His parents told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he had been shot four or five times
His father said, external Mr Ahmed *wasn't thinking about the background of the people he's saving, the people dying in the street
He doesn't discriminate between one nationality and another. Especially here in Australia, there's no difference between one citizen and another

theworriedwell Mon 15-Dec-25 11:50:24

My message disappeared. It might reappear so apologies in advance if that happens.

Thanks Box I hadn't seen that. Arabic name then not Muslim.

TerriBull Mon 15-Dec-25 12:04:15

Absolutely must do more to protect our Jewish communities. It's awful they feel such ongoing anxieties.

Wyllow3 Mon 15-Dec-25 12:13:26

theworriedwell

My message disappeared. It might reappear so apologies in advance if that happens.

Thanks Box I hadn't seen that. Arabic name then not Muslim.

worth reading this commentary in the Jerusalem post on Ahmed

www.jpost.com/opinion/article-880304

what matters most is what he said as to why - he acted from compassion, not politics or religious allegiance.

But he is a muslim

"Mustafa Al-Ahmed, a cousin of the hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed, who courageously stopped a gunman in Sydney, has confirmed that Ahmed is a Muslim of Syrian origin from the city of Idlib.
Speaking to Al Araby TV, he said that Ahmed, whose full name is Ahmed Fatih Al-Ahmed, is from Idlib, Syria.

He said that he spoke to Ahmed after the incident, who told him, “Allah Almighty gave me the courage."
"I spoke with him, and he told me about it. At first, he was not thinking about death. When he saw people dying and bullets flying over his head, he told me, literally: “Allah Almighty gave me the courage - I found myself rushing at him.”

Wyllow3 Mon 15-Dec-25 12:31:52

TerriBull

Absolutely must do more to protect our Jewish communities. It's awful they feel such ongoing anxieties.

I wish we knew what we could really do as divisions increase in our society - we discuss it in our City interfaith meetings with increasing sorrow but no easy solutions.

love0c Mon 15-Dec-25 12:38:20

Totally and utterly stomach sickening to see some people still do their best to 'excuse'.

Wyllow3 Mon 15-Dec-25 12:48:42

There are no excuses for taking the lives of innocents.

Wyllow3 Mon 15-Dec-25 12:51:12

There are politics and cultural factors and reasons surrounding anything like this, but, in the end,

no, there are no excuses

however, in order to try and stop it happening, we cannot ignore those reasons.

Spinnaker Mon 15-Dec-25 13:00:43

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FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 15-Dec-25 13:10:00

Weak Men (our PMs) create Dangerous Times. Ours. Australia’s.

My heart goes out to the Jewish community world wide. And to those citizens in Australia in shock today.

theworriedwell Mon 15-Dec-25 13:11:01

Ahmed is amazing what he said and what his father has said. I wonder how many lives he has saved?

He not only took a risk tackling the gunman but he could easily have been misidentified as one of the shooters.

Iam64 Mon 15-Dec-25 13:19:54

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Oreo Mon 15-Dec-25 13:23:21

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Lathyrus3 Mon 15-Dec-25 13:34:11

Perhaps Wyllow would like to explain the connection she has made between the reasons for the murder of Jews in Australia and the actions of the Israeli government.

She said we mustn’t ignore the reasons why these murders have taken place.

A war in another country is a reason for an attack on Australians? Where is the reason in that?

Or is there another connection………….

Anniebach Mon 15-Dec-25 13:43:59

Quote Wyllow3 Mon 15-Dec-25 12:51:12
There are politics and cultural factors and reasons surrounding anything like this, but, in the end,

no, there are no excuses

however, in order to try and stop it happening, we cannot ignore those reasons

We cannot try to stop it whilst some try to find a reason / explanation for murder