‘I jumped on his back’: Bondi hero recounts disarming shooter

Ahmed al Ahmed, who was heralded around the globe in the hours after footage emerged showing him disarming Bondi shooter Sajid Akram, has spoken in depth for the first time about his experience during the horrific terror attack.

In an interview with US broadcaster CBS News, al Ahmed recounted his first-hand perspective of the shooting, and how he wrestled the rifle from the elder of the two gunmen.

“I jumped on his back, hit him. I hold him with my right hand and start saying a word, you know, like to warn him, drop your gun, stop doing what you’re doing, and it’s come all in fast,” al Ahmed said.

“My target was just to take the gun from him, and to stop him from killing a human being’s life and not killing innocent people.”

“And emotionally, I’m doing something, which is I feel something, a power in my body, my brain … I don’t want to see people killed in front of me, I don’t want to hear his gun, I don’t want to see people screaming and begging, asking for help, and that’s my soul asking me to do that.”

“I know I save lots of people’s life, innocents, kids and women and others and men. I know I saved lots, but I feel sorry for the lost,” he said.

After disarming Sajid Akram, the Syrian-born Muslim shop-owner was allegedly shot five times by the second shooter Naveed Akram.

Al Ahmed spent time in hospital recovering from his injuries and multiple surgeries and was released from care last week.

While in hospital al Ahmed was never short on visitors. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley were among the well-wishers wanting to thank him for his bravery.

Sitting in his recovery bed last week al Ahmed also received a cheque for more than $2.5 million collected through a GoFundMe fundraiser.

The full interview on CBS News will be aired overnight.