The Bondi Beach hero who tackled one of the ISIS terrorists mid-slaughter has been given a check for $2.5 million — modestly asking if he was worthy of the support from tens of thousands of strangers.
Ahmed al Ahmed was given the oversized check in Australian dollars — equivalent to about $1.65 million USD — in the hospital bed where he is still recovering from being repeatedly shot while taking down one of the terrorists who slaughtered 15 at a Hanukkah celebration Sunday.
It came from 43,000 donations, an overwhelming show of support for the Syrian father of two who has disturbingly been branded a traitor by many fellow Muslims for helping to save Jewish lives.
Ahmed was handed a giant check for $2.5 AUD donated by tens of thousands of people. @mdmotivator via REUTERSThe hero dad — who assumed he would be killed when he rushed in — seemed confused when given the mammoth check by Zachery Dereniowski, a social media influencer who helped start the GoFundMe.
“I deserve it?” he asked Dereniowski.
“Every penny,” Dereniowski assured him.
The tobacco shop owner hid behind parked cars as gunfire rang out Sunday afternoon before courageously charging at one of the gunmen from behind — grabbing the rifle and knocking the killer to the ground, while taking shots from the other attacker.
“‘I’m going to die – please see my family [and tell them] that I went down to save people’s lives,’” his cousin recalled him bravely saying before running towards certain danger.
One of the ISIS-inspired terrorists, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police. His son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was wounded and taken into custody.
Despite saving so many lives, Ahmed was disparaged by Arab commenters in response to a story about his heroics posted on Facebook by the Palestine-based Ramallah News outlet.
Ahmed was shot multiple times after disarming one of the terrorists during Sunday’s attack. news.com.auAt least 75% of more than 1,000 comments on the Ramallah News post were hostile, Ahron Shapiro, an Australian and senior researcher for the Israeli-based Palestinian Media Watch, told The Australian.
The sick comments included “May Allah not heal you” and for selling out his life “for the safety of Jews,” according to the report.
Ahmed, who has undergone surgery for his injuries, has been hailed by his countrymen and even visited in his hospital by Australia’s prime minister and the state premier have visited Ahmed in hospital to praise his bravery.
He had some inspiring and patriotic words when asked what he would say to those who donated.
Ahmed was caught on camera ripping the gun out of one of the terrorist’s hands. ZUMAPRESS.com“To stand with each other, all human beings. And forget everything bad … and keep going to save life.”
“When I saved the people I (did it) from the heart,” Ahmed said, raising his uninjured fist in the air.
“This country (is the) best country in the world, best country in the world, but we’re not going to stand and keep watching – enough is enough. God protect Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.”
He did not reveal what he plans to do with the money.
With Post Wires
