Hero of Bondi Beach who disarmed gunman single-handedly is Muslim shopkeeper from Syria

His courage is thought likely to have helped prevent there being further casualties in the massacre in which 15 people were murdered.

Al-Ahmed is now in hospital recovering from injuries he suffered after intervening to stop the attack targeting the Jewish community.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns have said his bravery provided hope in a time of darkness.

He is reported to have been a police officer in Syria.

There are now calls in Israel for Al-Ahmed, 43 to be recognised as one of the ‘righteous among the nations’, an honour conferred on non-Jews who save Jewish lives.

Close to £1million has been raised for him in a GoFundMe campaign which quickly brought in more than 18,000 donations.

Jewish American billionaire Bill Ackman gave $100,000.

The video footage shows Al-Ahmed quietly stalking the gunman, using parked cars for cover.

Once within close enough range, he sprinted towards him, finally wrestling the firearm from his clutches.

Shooter Sajid Akram, 50, fell backward towards the ground as Al-Ahmed lifted the rifle, aiming its barrel towards him.

Akram’s son Naveed, 24, looked on from a nearby footbridge, gun in hand.

Naveed was rushed to hospital under police guard with critical injuries. His father was shot and killed by police at the scene.

Al-Ahmed is reported to have run a “Cigara” tobacconist and specialist convenience store in Sutherland, in Sydney’s southern suburbs, since 2021.

He moved to Sydney over a decade ago, and his cousin Jozay Alkanj were in Bondi on Sunday to get a coffee when their quiet day out turned “crazy”.

They had passed the Chanukah event where they were asked if they wanted food, but politely declined.

Alkankj told the Sydney Morning Herald: “It was then just 10 minutes later this happened. It was very crazy – we went behind the cars, we were seeing that people were shooting very near to us.”

Seconds before approaching the gunman Al-Ahmed told his cousin: “I’m going to die, please see my family and tell them that I went down to save people’s lives.”

Ahmed , who has two daughters aged five and six, remains in hospital after undergoing surgery for wounds to his left arm and shoulder.

Another cousin, Mustafa, said it is hoped he will make a complete recovery.

He said: “We hope he is okay, he is a hero, 100 per cent he is a hero.”

His father, Mohamed Fateh al-Ahmed, said: "I feel pride and honour because my son is a hero of Australia.”

"Thank god, when he did what he did, he wasn't thinking at all about the background of the people he was saving, the people dying in the street.

"He doesn't discriminate between one nationality and another.”

"He has an Australian citizenship and thank god he defended the innocent people."

His mother, Malakeh Hasan al-Ahmed, added: "My son has always been brave, helps people, he likes that.

"He saw they were dying and people were losing their lives.”

New South Wales premier Minns visited Al-Ahmed in hospital, and said he was a “genuine hero”.

He added: “'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.”