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

A fruit shop owner who risked his life to disarm one of the gunmen during an antisemitic terror attack in Australia’s Bondi Beach is being hailed 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 at the famous Sydney beach. The 50-year-old gunman was also killed and the 24-year-old was hospitalized in “serious condition,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.

Following the deadly shooting on Sunday, videos emerged on social media that showed a man crouched behind a parked car along Campbell Parade, a main street that runs parallel to Bondi Beach. One video shows him jump up and tackle one of the suspects, who had just fired his weapon toward something out of view.

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

Local outlet 7News reported that al Ahmed 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%,” he said.

The startling footage of the encounter has gone viral, and Ahmed was feted online for his bravery and lifesaving quick thinking, with many people saying he likely saved several lives.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns hailed al Ahmed a “genuine hero.”

“In all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,” Minns told a press briefing late Sunday.

U.S. President Trump, during an event at the White House on Sunday, said the man’s actions “saved a lot of lives.”

“It’s been a very, very brave person, actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters, and saved a lot of lives,” Mr. Trump said, adding the man “is right now in the hospital, pretty seriously wounded.”