William Ackman: Jewish billionaire donates $99,999 to Bondi shooting ‘hero’ Ahmed Al Ahmed who disarmed gunman

The man hailed as a hero of the Bondi Beach shooting, identified by multiple media reports as Ahmed Al Ahmed, has received a major donation on his GoFundMe campaign from Jewish billionaire investor William Ackman. Ahmed, a 43-year-old Sydney fruit shop owner, intervened during the attack by tackling one of the alleged gunmen and wrestling the weapon away, actions that have been credited with preventing further loss of life. His GoFundMe page lists a top donation of $99,999 made under the name William Ackman, also known as Bill Ackman.

Ahmed is currently recovering in hospital after suffering bullet injuries to his arm and hand during the incident, his family told Reuters. Ahmed Al Ahmed was seen in a video, which has since gone viral, hiding behind parked cars before charging at the gunman, seizing his rifle, and knocking him to the ground. His actions during the attack have drawn widespread attention and praise.



Also Read: What we know about Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, the father-son duo identified as alleged Bondi Beach shooters who killed 16

Bill Ackman’s donation

Ahmed’s intervention quickly made him a household name. Even US President Donald Trump took note, calling him “a very, very brave person.” Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman, worth more than $9.5 billion, also responded publicly after learning about the fundraiser. “This is the verified link for the Bondi hero. I am told by @gofundme that the funds will only be released directly to the hero,” he said. The largest single donation on the page—$99,999—was made under the name Bill or William Ackman.

Ahmed Al Ahmed's GoFundMe page says

The GoFundMe page created in Ahmed’s name describes his actions as instrumental in preventing further loss of life. “After witnessing the extraordinary actions of the hero who helped disarm one of the attackers during the Bondi tragedy, an act that prevented the loss of countless more lives, we felt compelled to act,” the page states. “In a moment of chaos and danger, he stepped forward without hesitation. His actions were selfless, instinctive, and undeniably heroic, taken without regard for his own safety. Early reports indicate he was shot twice in the process while protecting others,” it adds.

The fundraiser was launched by Car Hub Australia, which made an initial donation of $50,000. At the time of writing, the campaign had raised $330,704.

Bondi shooting killed 16

The Bondi beach shooting unfolded shortly after two gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach during an event marking the first day of Hanukkah. Panic spread rapidly as people fled the area, with authorities later describing scenes of chaos along the beachfront.

The death toll from the Bondi Beach shooting rose to 16 on Sunday evening, including a 10-year-old girl and one of the gunmen, according to ABC News. Dozens of others were injured in the attack, among them police officers who were among the first to respond and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Victims of the attack ranged in age from 10 to 87, the New York Times reported, citing officials. Those killed included a long-serving rabbi from Sydney’s Jewish community, a French national who was celebrating Hanukkah in the city, and a Holocaust survivor.