Category News

‘Hero’ bystander tackles attacker at Australia Jewish festival shooting

By in News, World News

A bystander who has been filmed tackling and disarming an assailant during a shooting in which at least 11 people were killed at a Jewish holiday event in Sydney, Australia, has been praised as a hero whose actions may have saved lives.

Footage uploaded to social media on Sunday shows a man in a car park running up to a man holding a rifle. He then tackles the armed man, wrestles the rifle away from him and points the weapon back at him.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

The video then shows the disarmed man losing his footing and backing away towards a bridge where another shooter was located while the bystander places the gun down on the ground.

One suspected attacker was killed and another was in a critical condition after Sunday’s shooting while police said they were investigating whether a third gunman was involved.

The footage of the bystander’s intervention was shared widely on social media, and many users praised the man for his bravery, saying his actions may have saved lives.

According to Australian media reports, the bystander was identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Sydney man.

Al Jazeera was unable to immediately confirm his identity.

A cousin of al Ahmed was quoted as telling the Australian television news service 7News that he was shot twice during the incident.

“He’s in hospital, and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” the man named Mustafa told the outlet.

“We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 per cent.”

Al Ahmed was due to undergo surgery on Sunday night, he said.

“Australian hero (random civilian) wrestles gun off attacker and disarms him. Some people are brave and then some people are … whatever this is,” one person said in a post on the X platform that shared the video.

“This Australian man saved countless lives by stripping the gun off one of the terrorists at Bondi beach. HERO,” another said.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state, where Sydney is located, said it was the “most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen”.

“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the actions of Australians who had “run towards danger in order to help others”.

Married At First Sight star ‘ran for her life’ during Bondi Beach terror attack

By in Entertainment News, News

Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn has explained she ‘ran for her life’ as armed terrorists opened fire on Bondi Beach, which has seen dozens injured and 12 people dead

Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor

A Married At First Sight star “ran for her life” during the Bondi Beach terror attack. Lauren Dunn, who appeared on the show last year, only recently moved to the area.

Earlier today, over 1,000 people were attending an event on the beach to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Two gunmen opened fire from a small bridge, crossing from a car park and heading towards the beach. New South Wales police responded to reports of gunfire at around 18:47 local time (7:47am GMT), with hundreds of people fleeing from the scene.

It has since been confirmed that at least 12 people, including London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger, have been killed. One of the offenders has been killed, while the second remains in custody.

A heroic bystander, Ahmed al Ahemd, 43, was seen rushing to confront one gunman and eventually disarmed him. Lauren, 37, has now explained that she had headed out of her flat to grab food on what was supposed to have been a chill night.

READ MORE: Bondi Beach shooting updates as 11 killed by gunmen firing on Jewish festivalREAD MORE: Kylie Minogue breaks silence on Bondi Beach mass shooting

At first, she heard what she believed to be a car backfiring, which was nothing out of the ordinary. “Then people started running and screaming, and the police shouted for everyone to get inside,” she said.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she added that she “ran for her life” and saw countless people running from the festival on the beach, which included children petting “fluffy animals”. Despite Lauren making it back to her apartment, some of her friends were not as fortunate.

She said that a group chat with friends was flooded with videos from the scene, which showed “dead bodies everywhere.” Lauren watched from her balcony as helicopters started to circle the beach, as a warning from loudspeakers urged people to stay indoors. She added: “It’s so disgusting, it’s people just living their lives. I can’t believe this has happened here.

“In the US, you see it every week. You don’t ever expect to see it in Bondi.” One of the shooters has since been identified as Naveed Akram after police raided his home in Western Sydney.

Around 29 people, including two police officers, have been injured and rushed to hospitals across Sydney. Suspicious items had also been found in the area, including an improvised explosive device.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told a press conference: “I very sadly need to report that, as of now, there are at least 12 individuals that have been killed.

“One of the offenders has also been killed and one is in custody. This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, what should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in that community with families and supporters, has been shattered by this horrifying evil attack.”

New South Wales Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyan, told a press conference that the incident had been declared as a terrorist incident and police now have special powers to investigate the possibility of a third offender.

He said: “At about 6.47pm this evening, police started to receive a number of reports of shots fired at Archer Park at Bondi. Archer Park is a grassed area just north of the Bondi pavilion. Police responded promptly.

“Unfortunately, at least 12 people are deceased at this time, 29 people have been transported to various hospitals around the Sydney area, including two police officers.

“The condition of those officers and the other transported are serious, but there is a range of conditions. Our thoughts, prayers and love go to all the families and all of those that were involved tonight, we know that there were many people there to celebrate a happy occasion, the celebration of Hannukah.

Article continues below

Five-try Castres cruise past rotated Edinburgh

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
George O’Neill

BBC Sport Scotland

Champions Cup

Castres 33 (5)

Tries: Ambadiang, Zarantonello, Ardron, Vargas, Botitu Cons: Popelin 4

A much-changed Edinburgh side shipped five tries in an Investec Champions Cup drubbing by Castres in the south of France.

Head coach Sean Everitt made 11 changes from the side that started last weekend’s impressive home victory against Toulon as he prioritised the forthcoming 1872 Cup derbies with Glasgow Warriors.

And Edinburgh were unable to replicate that level of performance in their second match of the competition.

They had plenty possession and territory in the first half, but were ineffective in attack and went into half-time five points behind after Castres wing Christian Ambadiang dived over in the corner.

Loris Zarantonello, Tyler Ardron, Adam Vargas and Vilimoni Botitu then crossed after the break in a dominant home display.

Edinburgh hooker Ewan Ashman thought he had gone over under the posts for a late consolation, but the try was ruled out for a knock-on earlier in the move as the visitors failed to score a single point.

    • 8 hours ago

    • 19 hours ago

The much-changed Edinburgh outfit never got going, but the nature in which the conceded the first try will frustrate Everitt.

Cammy Scott launched a kick dead, gifting possession back to the French side and soon after, Matt Currie knocked on under no pressure in his own 22.

From the resulting scrum, Ambadiang stepped past one defender and found his way to the whitewash.

Edinburgh could have been ahead at that point. They’d crossed the whitewash through Piers O’Conor, only for the centre to be held up, and had thrown the ball away when there was an opportunity to score out wide.

Only 5-0 down, Everitt would have felt his side had a chance but the second-half was about as one-sided as it gets.

Constantly camped in their own half, Edinburgh succumbed to wave after wave of Castres attack.

It took seven minutes for the hosts to score, as hooker Zarantonello crashed over at the back of the maul.

Five minutes later, Edinburgh gifted Castres their third when substitute Ewan Ashman launched a throw over his jumper on his own 5m line, with Tyler Ardron gleefully crossing.

O’Conor was then sent to the bin for a high tackle and Castres inflicted further punishment, scoring quick tries through Vargas and player of the match Botitu while Edinburgh were down to 14 men.

Line-ups

Castres: Palis, Ambadiang, Bottin, Goodhue, Vargas; Popelin, Fernandez; Walcker, Zarantonello, Azar, Maravat, Staniforth, Delaporte (c), Ardron, Papalii.

Replacements: Durand-Pradere, Guerois-Galisson, Corato, Nakarawa, Cope, Doubrere, Herve, Karawalevu.

Edinburgh: Brown, McCann, M Currie, O’Conor, Wells, Scott, Vellacott (c); Venter, Morris, O Blyth-Lafferty, Hunter-Hill, Young, McConnell, Douglas, Dodd.

Replacements: Ashman, Jones, Hill, Boyle, Watson, Shiel, Lang, Goosen.

Related topics

  • Edinburgh
  • Scottish Rugby
  • Rugby Union

Exeter suffer late heartbreak in Racing 92 draw

By in News, Sports News
Shutterstock
Brent Pilnick

BBC Sport England

European Challenge Cup,

Racing 92: (12) 31

Tries: Labarbe, Ravutaumada, Taofifenua, Donguy, Latrasse Cons: Gibert, Prisciantelli 2

Exeter: (28) 31

A much-changed Exeter side conceded a stoppage-time try as they drew 31-31 at Racing 92 in the European Challenge Cup.

Having gone behind in Paris to Kelo Labarbe’s early try, Martin Moloney and Kane James replied for Exeter as they led 14-7 midway through the first half.

Fijian winger Selestino Ravutaumada pulled one back for the hosts but forwards Lewis Pearson and Rusi Tuima crossed to ensure a bonus point for the Chiefs before half-time.

The English side defended strongly in the second half, keeping out their opponents until Romain Taofifenua went over from close range with 15 minutes left after Tuima had been sin-binned.

But Exeter’s England Under-20 fly-half Ben Coen kicked a penalty with 10 minutes left to give his side more breathing space.

It was needed as Nolann Donguy scored an unconverted try with seven minutes to go after Greg Fisilau had also been yellow carded.

Exeter tried their best to hold out, but Racing managed to march their way up to the Chiefs try-line as the clock ticked over 80 minutes, and after multiple phases Antoine Latrasse forced his way over under the posts with Geronimo Prisciantelli kicking the equalising conversion.

Exeter celebrate a tryShutterstock

Only scrum-half Charlie Chapman survived from the side that beat Cheetahs at Sandy Park last weekend as Exeter rested their international stars ahead of next Saturday’s crucial Prem trip to Saracens.

Meanwhile, Racing made four changes to an inexperienced team beaten 61-7 at Ulster, with France centre Gael Fickou among those given a recall.

The hosts started superbly – Junior Kpoku was held up over the Exeter line by Dan John after seven minutes, but two minutes later they went ahead as Lebarbe galloped in after Prisciantelli had burst down the right wing.

Exeter struck back within five minutes when Moloney stretched over under the posts after strong pressure and James added a second try six minutes later in similar fashion.

Rob Baxter’s side were pegged back when Ravutaumada dived over in the left corner after a missed tackle 12 minutes from the break.

But Exeter extended their lead to nine points when Pearson got on the end of Tuima’s break from a 30th-minute ruck before the forward went in himself from close-range finish following an excellent run from Campbell Ridl.

Racing brought on internationals Taofifenua, Guram Gogichashvili, Vinaya Habosi and Lekima Tagitagivalu at the start of the second half and stepped up the pressure on their Devon opponents, but Exeter’s defence held firm until the final 15 minutes.

Exeter had Tuima sin-binned for dragging down a maul and soon after Taofifenua went over from close range after a five-metre line-out.

Coen’s penalty after a ruck infringement gave Exeter some relief as the impressive 20 year-old fly-half made his fifth kick from as many attempts, but replacement Fisilau departed for a high hit on Fickou leaving them briefly with just 13 men.

Racing 92: Prisciantelli; Donguy, Fickou, Manu, Ravutaumada; Gibert, Labarbe; Jabea Njocke, Basse, Kharaishvili, Kpoku, Rowlands, Sanconnie, Lainault, Zinzen.

Replacements: Leota, Gogichashvili, Bamba, Taofifenua, Tagitagivalu, Albuisson, Latrasse, Habosi.

Exeter: Haydon-Wood; John, Ascherl, Rigg, Ridl; Coen, Chapman; Burger, Heaven, J. Roots, Pearson, Tuima, Capstick, Moloney, James.

Replacements: Dweba, Goodrick-Clarke, Mona, Beckerleg, E. Roots, Fisilau, Cairns, Batson.

Yellow card: Tuima (63), Fisilau (72)

Related topics

  • Exeter Chiefs
  • Rugby Union

Zara McDermott shares first photo with Louis Tomlinson in adorable moment

By in Entertainment News, News

Former Love Island star Zara McDermott looked blissfully happy as she posed alongside her boyfriend One Direction star Louis Tomlinson while they celebrated her birthday together

Zara McDermott has shared her first photo with boyfriend Louis Tomlinson on Instagram. The former Love Island star was delighted as she celebrated her 29th birthday alongside the One Direction star and couldn’t help but share her happiness.

Zara beamed as she posed in the snap alongside Louis, 33, wearing a brown beanie hat and brown faux fur coat. Louis also smiled as he leant in to the picture which was taken in a frosty looking outdoor countryside setting.

Captioning the snap as she enthused about her big day alongside Louis she wrote: “The best birthday ever with you & the final year of my 20’s!!” She also added a series of emojis including love hearts, a Christmas tree and logs.

The adorable update for the couple comes after her ex Sam Thompson said she took one of his favourite things. The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, dated Zara for five years before the couple decided to go their separate ways in January.

But soon after she left Sam’s Chelsea home, which she had moved into, he claims to have noticed that she had taken his Crocs with her. Sam made the admission while on the Staying Relevant podcast he shared with former TOWIE star Pete Wicks.

During their latest episode, Pete asked Sam what he would choose to wear to a high profile fashion event, to which Sam said Crocs, without hesitation. He said: “Got to be the Crocs. Shock value. Get the jelly shoes on.”

In response Pete said: “You haven’t worn the Crocs for some time now because you…” Pete wasn’t able to finish his sentence before Sam then chimed in and said: “Yeah, Zara took them.” Feeling sorry for his best pal, Pete simply said “Oh god.”

In a bid to not dwell on his break up and the loss of his beloved possession, he changed the subject swiftly. He went on to say: “I need a new pair of Crocs. I actually don’t have any Crocs.”

The conversation surrounding his break-up comes after he revealed that he had finally made his relationship with Talitha Balinska, official. Sam has been dating Talitha, 25, for a few months but recently announced that she was now his girlfriend.

Sam and Talitha first met two years ago when she modelled for Sam’s sunglasses brand, Dinelli, which he co-owns with former Made In Chelsea’s Reza Amiri Garroussi.

At the time, Sam was in a relationship with Zara but he is thought to have reconnected with her when she was invited to one of his live shows at the O2 Arena. Unable to contain his excitement, he informed his listeners of his news. He said: “I’ve got a girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend!”

Zara and Louis meanwhile will reportedly spend Christmas together as their relationship goes from strength to strength. The couple who started dating in March will celebrate their first Christmas together alongside his son, Freddie, and his family including his sister Lottie and twins Phoebe and Daisy.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on

Article continues below

Person of interest held in hunt for gunman who killed 2 at Brown University

By in News, World News

Police in Providence, Rhode Island, have detained a “person of interest” after a manhunt for a gunman who killed two people at Brown University, officials say.

At a news conference on Sunday, Police Colonel Oscar Perez said the individual had been detained that morning and officers were not currently looking for anyone else in relation to the shooting at the Ivy League university in the northeastern United States.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

Officials have not released the identity of the person of interest.

Nine people were wounded on Saturday, seven of them critically, when a suspect with a firearm entered a building where students were taking exams and opened fire.

The shooting sparked a manhunt involving more than 400 law enforcement personnel, including agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, while the campus was placed under lockdown as the search took place.

Students hid under desks for hours after warnings of an active shooter were released.

Brown said in an advisory on Sunday that police had lifted a shelter-in-place order for the campus although police remained at the location and still considered it an active crime scene.

Access to parts of the campus remained restricted on Sunday as police maintained a security perimeter around Minden Hall and nearby apartment buildings, the university said.

Officials had earlier released a video of the suspect, a male, possibly in his 30s, who was dressed in black.

Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said on Saturday that the gunman may have worn a mask and investigators had retrieved shell casings from the scene.

Police are deployed in Providence on December 13, 2025, during the hunt for the shooter [Mark Stockwell/AP]

Detectives were looking into why the location was targeted, Perez told reporters. The incident was the second deadly gun attack at a US university in recent days after a shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday.

The Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as any incident in which four or more people are shot, has documented 389 such incidents in the US so far this year, including at least six at schools.