THE HERO OF BONDI BEACH

As at least 16 people die in a horrific terrorist attack on a Jewish festival, one brave bystander saves 'many lives'

- BY GILES SHELDRICK Chief Reporter

A HEROIC passerby disarmed a gunman as a father-and-son terror attack on a Jewish festival left at least 16 people dead at Sydney's Bondi Beach yesterday.

Fearless Ahmed al-Ahmed “saved many lives” after launching himself at one shooter who opened fire from behind a palm tree. Father-of-two Ahmed, 43, a fruit and veg trader, was shot twice as he wrestled the weapon off the killer and was in hospital last night.

New South Wales premier Chris Minns said: “That man is a genuine hero. There are many, many people alive as a result of his bravery." Hundreds of festival-goers and beach trippers had fled screaming as dozens of shots rang out across Australia's iconic tourist strip during a Hanukkah event yesterday.

Witnesses said two bearded men wearing black had calmly got out of a car then indiscriminately opened fire on worshippers.

British-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, a father-of-five, was among the dead, as was a girl of 10. At least 42 people, including two police officers, were seriously hurt and four children were taken to hospital.

State premier Mr Minns said 15 "innocent people" and one of the gunmen had been killed.