The world-famous Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, became the site of a horrific mass shooting on Sunday, December 14, 2025, during a Hanukkah celebration. The attack, which authorities have declared a terrorist incident, resulted in 16 deaths and left at least 40 people injured. Among those present in the area was former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, who recounted the terrifying experience of being locked down in a nearby restaurant as the events unfolded.

Vaughan, who is in Australia as a media pundit for the Ashes series, described the scene as "scary" after he was told to get inside by a bouncer. He was with his wife, her sister, his two daughters, and a friend when the restaurant staff locked the doors for safety. In an interview, Vaughan expressed the surreal nature of the event, stating, "You know what's happening around you, but you don't want to believe it's happening". He noted the somber atmosphere inside the restaurant, where people were eating but were clearly shaken by the nearby violence.

In the aftermath of the attack, Vaughan took to social media to express his gratitude to the emergency services and to a bystander who confronted one of the shooters. That bystander has been identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old father of two and fruit shop owner. Reports indicate that al Ahmed bravely tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen, potentially saving countless lives.

Witness accounts and video footage show al Ahmed taking cover behind a car before সাহpping up to the gunman and seizing him in a headlock. After a brief struggle, al Ahmed managed to take the weapon from the attacker. Reports indicate al Ahmed was shot twice during the intervention and was taken to the hospital to undergo surgery.

Vaughan lauded al Ahmed as a hero, questioning how many lives he saved and what would have happened had he not intervened. "This is one of the most heroic things I've ever seen. Risking his own life to save others. What an astounding act of courage," Vaughan said.

The Bondi Beach shooting has been described as a targeted attack on the Jewish community during Hanukkah. The two gunmen, identified as a father and son, opened fire on a crowd gathered in Archer Park near Bondi Beach. One of the gunmen was killed at the scene by police, while the other was taken into custody and hospitalized.

The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in recent decades. The Prime Minister called the attack an act of antisemitic terrorism.