'Hero turned villain': Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed al-Ahmed charged with domestic violence assault

One Bondi Beach hero praised worldwide for his courageous act for humanity is now charged with domestic violence assault.

Ahmed al Ahmed was hailed as a hero after intervening in the attack at a Jewish event in December, in which 15 people were killed and dozens injured.

Local media and police said on Thursday that a Sydney man credited with saving dozens of lives during last year’s deadly mass shooting on Bondi Beach has been charged with attacking his own father.

New South Wales police said, "On Sunday 15 March 2026, police received a report of an alleged assault at a home in Bankstown on Tuesday 9 March 2026."

The 44-year-old is accused of having assaulted his father in March, Australian media report. He has been charged with domestic violence and common assault, as well as stalking and intimidation.

On the contrary, Ahmed has denied all allegations, telling broadcaster ABC they were "not true at all."

“I don’t have any information at all,” he added.

He told the ABC that he was focusing on his health and planned to undergo further operations on his arm to address the injuries sustained in the attack.

Last month, his two brothers faced court in Sydney over allegations they had attempted to pressure Al Ahmed into handing over some of that money, local media said.

The news has shocked everyone, as the Bondi attack was Australia's deadliest mass shooting since 1996. Police declared it a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community, but still Ahmed managed to save lives.

Footage from the mass shooting at an event to mark Hanukkah showed Ahmed wrestling a gun from one of the alleged attackers.

He was shot several times in the process and subsequently visited by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the hospital, who called him the "best of our country."

A fundraiser to support him raised more than A$2.5m (£1.24m; $1.7m).

Ahmed is due to appear in Sydney's Bankstown Local Court on 29 June.

Australian police as a rule do not identify individuals charged with crimes to the media.