![\"Luca](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Luca_Ittimani.png\")
Luca Ittimani<\/p>\nPM says Ahmed al-Ahmed \u2018the best of our country\u2019 after hospital visitLuca Ittimani<\/p>\n
Anthony Albanese has praised the man who tackled a Bondi<\/a> shooter as an inspiration to all Australians and \u201cthe best of our country\u201d.<\/p>\n The prime minister has just left St George hospital after visiting Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, who he said had been visiting Bondi on Sunday with friend and family. Albanese spoke to Ahmed about the Syrian-born man\u2019s thought processes, telling reporters:<\/p>\n He was trying to get a cup of coffee. Simple as that. And found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him. He decided to take action and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. He is a very humble man.<\/p>\n Albanese said it had been a great honour to meet Ahmed:<\/p>\n \u201cAt a moment where we have seen evil perpetrated, he shines out as an example of the strength of humanity. We are a brave country. Ahmed al-Ahmed represents the best of our country.<\/p>\n The prime minister said he met Ahmed\u2019s mother and father, visiting from Syria, who were very proud of their son. Ahmed had already been in surgery and would undergo further operations on Wednesday, he added.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.27 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and New South Wales police are about to address the media. We are standing by for that and will bring you it, as soon as they are up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Recap: Tuesday morning at Bondi<\/p>\n The crowd of mourners at Bondi Pavilion was quiet and sombre on Tuesday. A diverse array gathered, from dog walkers to babies in strollers and elderly couples in running gear.<\/p>\n Some wrapped their arms around each other, whilst others carried flowers to lay at an ever-growing memorial. A woman still in her bathers and towel stared at the display with tears flowing down her cheeks. Many stood arms crossed in reflective silence.<\/p>\n A Jewish group was handing out free sufganiyot – a traditional Jewish doughnut popular during Hanukkah – and leading prayers.<\/p>\n The Australian and Israeli flags were hung at the pavilion\u2019s gates.<\/p>\n A portion of Campbell Parade was still cut off to traffic, with police tape hung by strewn electric bicycles. There was still a large police presence on the ground, as well as council vehicles sweeping the streets.<\/p>\n Bondi Beach also remained cut off to traffic, though some still entered the surf or walked on the shoreline. Beside Archer Park, where the suiting shook place, the outdoor Sunset Cinema still looked abandoned, with bean bags strewn across the grass and the fencing half fallen on the ground.<\/p>\n Among those to visit the pavilion and pay their respects were the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, Liberal MP Julian Leeser, the Sydney Swans Football Club, Israel\u2019s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, the NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane, and the local member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.58 EST<\/p>\n PM visits heroic bystander in hospital: video<\/p>\n Albanese has shared a video<\/a> of his visit with Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed. In the video, he says:<\/p>\n Ahmed your heart is strong. Your courage is inspiring.<\/p>\n In response, Ahmed puts his hand on his heart and says, \u201cThank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n The PM posted the video with the caption:<\/p>\n Ahmed, you are an Australian hero.<\/p>\n You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist.<\/p>\n In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians. And that\u2019s exactly what we saw on Sunday night.<\/p>\n On behalf of every Australian, I say thank you.<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.43 EST<\/p>\n The daughter of Bondi<\/a> terror attack victim Reuven Morrison says her father is the man seen in footage hurling an object at gunman Sajid Akram after he had been disarmed by bystander Ahmed al-Ahmed.<\/p>\n Speaking on CBS News, Sheina Gutnick says her father \u201cjumped up the second the shooting started\u201d. She went on:<\/p>\n He managed to throw bricks, he was screaming at the terrorist, and protecting his community, he was shot dead. 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.<\/p>\n Asked if that was in his character, Gutnick said: \u201cYes – he\u2019s not one to lie down, he is one to run towards danger … That\u2019s my Dad. As I called him, my Tati, in Yiddish\u201d:<\/p>\n Everyone [who] knew him knew the incredible man that was just too big for this world. The light that he added, his absolute immense and endless generosity, his sense of humour. He was just the most incredible person.<\/p>\n Gutnick blamed the Australian government for his death, saying \u201cthey have had the warning signs for so long\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.33 EST<\/p>\n Albanese added:<\/p>\n We will not allow this country to be divided.<\/p>\n That is what the terrorists seek. We will unite. We will embrace each other and we will get through this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.29 EST<\/p>\n PM says Ahmed al-Ahmed \u2018the best of our country\u2019 after hospital visit Anthony Albanese has praised the man who tackled a Bondi<\/a> shooter as an inspiration to all Australians and \u201cthe best of our country\u201d.<\/p>\n The prime minister has just left St George hospital after visiting Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, who he said had been visiting Bondi on Sunday with friend and family. Albanese spoke to Ahmed about the Syrian-born man\u2019s thought processes, telling reporters:<\/p>\n He was trying to get a cup of coffee. Simple as that. And found himself at a moment where people were being shot in front of him. He decided to take action and his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. He is a very humble man.<\/p>\n Albanese said it had been a great honour to meet Ahmed:<\/p>\n \u201cAt a moment where we have seen evil perpetrated, he shines out as an example of the strength of humanity. We are a brave country. Ahmed al-Ahmed represents the best of our country.<\/p>\n The prime minister said he met Ahmed\u2019s mother and father, visiting from Syria, who were very proud of their son. Ahmed had already been in surgery and would undergo further operations on Wednesday, he added.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to media at St George hospital Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.27 EST<\/p>\n Two NSW police officers remain in hospital in \u2018serious but stable\u2019 condition<\/p>\n NSW police said last night that two officers remain in hospital in a \u201cserious but stable\u201d condition.<\/p>\n As reported in the blog earlier, one officer has been named by police as Constable Scott Dyson, who has been attached to Bondi\u2019s local eastern suburbs area command for 18 months.<\/p>\n The other officer has not been identified.<\/p>\n Constable Scott Dyson. Photograph: NSW PoliceShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.27 EST<\/p>\n Adelaide Test to receive increased security as precautionary measure<\/p>\n Cricket fans heading to Adelaide Oval for the start of the third Ashes Test have been reassured that there is no increased threat level following the Bondi<\/a> Beach terrorist attack, but extra security will be put in place in and around the ground as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n South Australia\u2019s police commissioner, Grant Stevens, said special security-response police armed with rifles will be present at the match starting on Wednesday – the first major sporting event to be held since Sunday\u2019s shooting – but fans should not be alarmed.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a balance between the concern about police officers carrying rifles in and about the community, balanced with the need for us to be able to effectively respond to an event, should an event occur and these officers are specifically trained for that purpose.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no intelligence at this time to indicate that there are any increased levels of threat or security risks around the cricket or any other community event.<\/p>\n But notwithstanding that, we apply a level of diligence to make sure that people attending can do so with that confidence that they are attending a safe and well-managed event.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.12 EST<\/p>\n Howard says his gun laws banning semiautomatic and automatic weapons prevented \u2018infinitely bigger\u2019 death toll<\/p>\n Asked about whether he supports reform on gun licenses and gun ownership, Howard says he\u2019s not \u201caware of a crackdown\u201d.<\/p>\n Last night\u2019s national cabinet agreed to reform gun laws, including to stop gun licenses being granted in perpetuity.<\/p>\n Howard says that his gun laws, legislated after the Port Arthur massacre, would have stopped this tragedy having an even higher death toll.<\/p>\n What I am aware of that if the guns that my crackdown removed after Port Arthur had still been legally available, in other words automatic and semiautomatic weapons, the death toll gruesome though it was, it would be infinitely bigger.<\/p>\n Howard says he is open to changes to the legislation but concedes that there will always be \u201ctoo many\u201d guns in Australia.<\/p>\n There are truth there are too many guns in our community. People ignore laws, and it\u2019s the potency of the weapon that was so drastically changed after Port Arthur. Just imagine if one of those criminals had had access to an automatic or semiautomatic weapon.<\/p>\n Former\u00a0prime minister John Howard. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.29 EST<\/p>\n Howard accuses Albanese of failing to provide ‘moral leadership’ on denouncing antisemitism Former PM John Howard is now speaking to journalists out of Sydney, and again says Anthony Albanese and foreign Penny Wong have not done enough over the past two years since 7 October 2023 to combat antisemitism.<\/p>\n Howard says Albanese hasn\u2019t provided \u201cmoral leadership\u201d in responding to antisemitism.<\/p>\n His greatest failure is not to provide the moral leadership that a prime minister can in denouncing antisemitism.<\/p>\n There is little doubt since 7 October 2023, not enough has been done by those who command authority and respect in our society to prevent cauterise and denounce the spread of antisemitism. And I hope that this terrible event will be a wake-up call to those who have been asleep at the wheel on this issue …<\/p>\n I\u2019m ashamed of the fact that our relationship with Israel has broken down. Israel has been an ally of Australia.<\/p>\n He again celebrates the bravery of Ahmed al-Ahmed as well as the police and emergency workers who saved lives at the scene.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.04 EST<\/p>\n John Howard praises Ahmed al-Ahmed\u2019s courage<\/p>\n Jumping back to John Howard\u2019s interview on Sky News, the former prime minister lauds the bravery of Ahmed al-Ahmed, who tackled one of the alleged gunmen and took his weapon from him.<\/p>\n Ahmed is in St George hospital \u2013 currently receiving a visit from the PM – while he recovers.<\/p>\n Howard says Ahmed\u2019s actions are a reminder that the community should \u201cnot lose faith in the Australian achievement\u201d.<\/p>\n I think that the single act of greatest courage we\u2019ve seen is that magnificent man who tackled the bloke with the gun, and I understand he\u2019s a Muslim \u2026 that is a reminder that there are good people of every persuasion in this wonderful country about and although it\u2019s a terrible tragedy and a reminder that anything can happen here, we should not lose faith in the Australian achievement.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.01 EST<\/p>\n Prime minister visits Ahmed in hospital<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese is visiting the man who was injured disarming a Bondi<\/a> gunman on Sunday.<\/p>\n The prime minister has just walked into St George hospital, where Ahmed al-Ahmed is recovering from his first round of surgery.<\/p>\n Albanese has praised Ahmed as a hero, as has the NSW premier. Chris Minns, who visited Ahmed in hospital and spoke to him on Monday night.<\/p>\n![\"Prime](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8256.jpg\")
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to media at St George hospital Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Caitlin_Cassidy,_L.png\")
Caitlin Cassidy<\/p>\n![\"Benita](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Benita_Kolovos.png\")
Benita Kolovos<\/p>\nLuca Ittimani<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Nick_Visser.png\")
Nick Visser<\/p>\n![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mike_Hytner,_L.png\")
Mike Hytner<\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\nKrishani Dhanji<\/p>\nLuca Ittimani<\/p>\n