Trump praises Bondi Beach bystander Ahmed al-Ahmed as ‘very brave person’

US President Donald Trump on Sunday praised Bondi Beach bystander Ahmed al-Ahmed, who tackled one of the Sydney gunmen, potentially saving many lives during the mass shooting.

“And in Australia you probably read, it’s been it’s been a very, very brave person actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters and saved a lot of lives,” Trump said.

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Although he did not mention al-Ahmed by name, Trump’s comments corroborated a viral video showing al-Ahmed running through a parking lot toward a man holding a rifle and who was reported to be one of the gunmen that opened fire on a Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach killing at least 15 people.

Al-Ahmed, whom local media had identified as the 43-year-old bystander, was then seen tackling the suspect from behind, grabbing the weapon from his hands and briefly pointing it back at him.

“So very brave person who’s right now in the hospital pretty seriously wounded. So I, great respect to that man that did that,” Trump added.

Read more: Ahmed al-Ahmed hailed as ‘hero’ after tackling gunman at Sydney Jewish event