 "One of the heroes was a Sikh man of Indian-origin, Amandeep Singh Bola, who tackled Sajid Akram. Image Courtesy: @manjeet_sehgal/X")
Last Sunday, when two terrorists fired at a gathering of Jewish faithfuls near Bondi Beach, some ordinary people turned heroes. They sprang into action and did everything they could to thwart the attack that claimed 16 lives. One of them was a Sikh man of Indian-origin, Amandeep Singh Bola, who tackled Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old gunman who was firing at people along with his son, Naveed Akram.
Enjoying kebabs at the famous Sydney beach , Bola sprinted in the direction of the gunfire and pounced on Sajid Akram, who was later shot dead by a police bullet. Here is his story.
Who is Amandeep Singh Bola?
Amandeep Singh Bola is a Sikh man born to Indian and Kiwi parents in New Zealand, reported local news broadcaster SBS News. Currently, working as a personal trainer in Australia, the 34-year-old has roots in Punjab’s Nawanshahr.
Speaking to The Times of India, he stated that his great-grandfather, Puna Singh Bola, relocated to New Zealand in 1916, making him one of the first Sikh immigrants in the island country. He added that his grandparents, Mahan Singh Bol and Parkash Kaur, also lived there and that his father, Manjit Singh Bola, was born and raised in New Zealand. His mother, Harvinder Kaur, hails from Ludhiana and lives in New Zealand. Bola said that he moved to Australia six or seven years ago.
How Bola confront the terrorist on Bondi Beach
Bola was eating kebabs at Bondi Beach when gunshots were fired. Initially dismissing the sound as that of firecrackers, he continued to enjoy watching the sunset, but realised things were serious when the beachgoers around him began running in fear.
“I was having a kebab when I heard the gunshots. At first, I thought it was firecrackers, but soon I saw men and women running away in fear. I started running in the direction of the gunfire. On the way, I tried to ask some people what happened, and figured out that two gunmen were shooting at people on the beach," Bola told The Times of India in an interview.
As gunfire broke out on a bridge, Bola made the courageous choice to run toward danger. He reportedly intercepted Sajid Akram, deciding to tackle him and kick the weapon out of reach before pinning him down and locking his arms to ensure he couldn’t fire again.
“I jumped on top of (the shooter) and grabbed his arms. The police officer helped me and said not to let him go,” he told SBS News. He further said, “I wanted to help get one of (the alleged shooters) down, or just help anybody that needed help.”
In the viral video, Bola is seen in plain clothes, a white T-shirt and shorts, choosing to maintain a firm grip on Sajid Akram’s arms while sitting on his back. His decision to stay in the fight allowed the lone policeman nearby to opt for the immediate arrest of the second shooter, Naveed Akram.
Once the tackle was over, he lay down to control the adrenaline. Speaking to SBS News, he said, “I lay down for a bit because the adrenaline was wearing off, and I was feeling pretty bad.”
He recalled how those around came to assist him later. ” A French guy gave me coconut water, two Africans remained by my side until I got comfortable, and a few others also stayed around, just to be close.”
What do we know about the other Bondi heroes?
The story of Ahmed Al Ahmed, the shopowner who disarmed Sajid Akram, grabbed international headlines. He was hailed as a hero by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and earned praise from US President Donald Trump. After sustaining two gunshot wounds, he is now recovering in the hospital.
Another Bondi Beach hero was Reuven Morrison. The Jewish businessman hurled bricks at Sajid Akram as he retreated toward the footbridge. A video of him and another man trying to distract the terrorist to save the others from the community has gone viral. However, the 62-year-old was later killed.
When his daughter, Sheina Gutnick, saw the footage of her father charging the shooters, she recognised him at once. “That’s my dad,” she was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
A couple, Boris and Sofia Gurman, also attempted to stop Akram, even before he started firing his gun. The Ukrainian-Jewish pair were walking along the Campbell Parade boulevard when Sajid Akram emerged from behind the Islamic State flag on his car.
The couple knew something was amiss. Dashcam footage shows 69-year-old Boris tackling the terrorist onto the road and snatching the rifle from his hands. Frightened, the others took cover behind the bus stop; Boris picked up the gun and aimed it at Sajid Akram.
Boris looked like he had the upper hand for a bit; his wife joined him to force the gunman to retreat. However, Sajid Akram had another rifle, with which he executed the couple.
There were other heroes, too. They may not have taken on the gunmen, but they tried to protect those around them. Lifeguards, parents, and volunteers. As Australia comes to terms with the horrors of the attack, these stories provide a silver lining.
With inputs from agencies