Revealed: Bondi hero's bombed-out home that was destroyed during Syria's civil war along with the town where he lived years before his bravery in Sydney
This is the former home of Bondi Beach hero Ahmed al-Ahmed - now just a bombed out shell after it was destroyed in Syria's civil war.
Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two, left Syria nearly 20 years ago to seek work in Australia, working in construction before opening up the Cigara tobacconist and specialist convenience store in Sutherland, in Sydney's southern suburbs, in 2021.
On Sunday, he courageously took down one of the armed Bondi Beach terrorists, stopping him from killing or hurting more innocents but getting shot himself in the process.
Mr al-Ahmed's family are from Al-Nayrab, a town in the Idlib province of Syria.
What remains of the three-floor home is a bombed out husk destroyed during civil war that tore the country apart from 2011 to the end of 2024.
Piles of rubble and breeze blocks can be seen scattered around the property, with many of the building's walls outright destroyed.
The façades that remain on the few still-upright walls are cracked, revealing weathered bricks underneath.
Mr al-Ahmed, who left the country in 2006 in his twenties on a student visa, has become the pride of his former hometown after footage of him taking down one terrorist went viral.
What remains of the three-floor home is a bombed out husk destroyed during civil war that tore the country apart from 2011 to the end of 2024
Mr al-Ahmed has since undergone multiple surgeries after he received five gunshot wounds
al-Ahmed's uncle Mohammed, a farmer, said he was scrolling through his socials when he came across the video showing his nephew wrestling now-dead terrorist Sajid Akram from behind and ripping away the man's firearm.
The gunman then fell backward to the ground as Mr al-Ahmed lifted the rifle, aiming its barrel toward the disarmed shooter but not shooting.
Akram then backed away as Mr al-Ahmed rested the firearm against a tree before a second bystander rushed the shooter and threw an object at him.
The altercation took place in view of the second alleged gunman, Akram's 24-year-old son, Naveed, who looked on from a nearby footbridge, gun in hand.
The alleged terrorist shot the tobacconist in his shoulder.
'I suspected that this was my nephew, so I called his father and he confirmed to me that Ahmed was the one who took the weapon,' Mohammed said.
'This incident caused a global sensation. He is from Syria and he is a Muslim, and he had no motivation for doing this other than heroism and bravery,' the uncle said.
Mr al-Ahmed's proud grandmother prayed for him: 'May God be pleased with him and grant him success.'
Piles of rubble and breeze blocks can be seen scattered around the property, with many of the building's walls outright destroyed
Mr al-Ahmed's hometown was destroyed during the Syrian Civil War
Mr al-Ahmed, who put his life on the line to wrestle a firearm from one of the two shooters at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, is visited in hospital by NSW Premier Chris Minns
While sorting boxes of apples in front of his home, Youssef al-Ali, an old friend of al-Ahmed's, recalled their long evenings filled with joy and laughter before he left.
'When I saw on Facebook that he was injured, I was very upset, but his was a heroic act, may God heal his wounds,' the 45-year-old told AFP.
'He has always been brave, a man of principle.'
Mr al-Ahmed's father, Mohammad Fatih al-Ahmed, said his son was a policeman in his country of origin, which may have given him the instinct to protect innocents.
Mohammad said in an interview: 'When he saw those people on the ground covered in blood, his conscience and his morals compelled him to attack one of the terrorists and take away his weapon, and the terrorist ran away'.
The father of two young girls, aged just three and six, worked for a time in construction before running the Sydney tobacconist in 2021.
The following year, he was granted citizenship after his case was heard in court.
Mr al-Ahmed's actions were praised by many around the world, and a GoFundMe was set up to support him.
Naveed Akram, 24, has been identified as one of the gunmen allegedly behind the Bondi Beach shooting
Naveed Akram (pictured) was shot by police and is in custody
Experts have said Mr al-Ahmed (pictured in a white shirt) may have turned the gun against the shooter, but didn't pull the trigger because he didn't get caught up in his emotions
This has so far raised £1,470,000, with Wall Street hedge fund manager Bill Ackman contributing nearly £50,000 himself.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns said the heroism provided some hope in a time of darkness.
'We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,' Albanese told reporters.
Minns said Mr al-Ahmed was a 'genuine hero' at a press conference late on Sunday, adding there was 'no doubt' he saved many lives.
'I think it's worth remembering that 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,' he said.
Mr al-Ahmed even received praise for his actions from US President Donald Trump.
'In Australia, as you've probably read, there's been a very, very brave person who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters. He saved a lot of lives, a very brave person who is right now in the hospital, pretty seriously wounded. I have great respect for the man who did that.'
