Snatches the gun from him

Sydney: Courageous passer-by wrestles down assassin

This unarmed passer-by showed incredible courage and neutralized one of the attackers.(Bild: Screenshot twitter.com/nexta_tv)

An anti-Semitic attack in Australia with at least 16 dead, including an assassin, is causing horror. The courageous actions of a brave passer-by may have prevented an even greater bloodbath - he is already being celebrated as the "Hero of Sydney".

And rightly so, as the previously unknown man watched from the parking lot as one of the assassins opened fire on participants at the Jewish Festival of Lights on Bondi Beach and did not hesitate for long. The man lunged at the gunman and wrestled him to the ground. Footage of the scene spread like wildfire on the internet

After the successful attack on one of the black-clad attackers, the "Hero of Sydney" took his long gun and threatened the terrorist (see video below). He then fled to his accomplice on a bridge, where the two hid until the police arrived and fired a few more shots.

This unarmed passer-by showed incredible courage and put one of the assassins out of action.(Bild: Screenshot twitter.com/nexta_tv)

TV station: Explosive devices found
In the meantime, the police have already confirmed twelve deaths. These include one of the attackers, who was shot when he was arrested. The police also reported that a number of suspicious objects in the vicinity of the crime scene were being investigated by special forces and that a no-go zone had been set up. The police urgently warned the public not to be in the vicinity and spoke of an ongoing police operation. According to the TV station ABC, the explosives included homemade devices.

According to media reports, there were around 2,000 people on the beach at the time of the attack, many of whom belonged to the Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of a "shocking and disturbing" incident. Rescue workers were on the scene and "fighting to save lives".

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke of an attack by "vile terrorists" on the Jewish community. "At these very moments, our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists - in an extremely cruel attack on Jews who had gathered to light the first Hanukkah candle on Bondi Beach," Herzog said, according to his office in Jerusalem.

Stocker: "Standing with Australia"
"Our hearts are with them," Herzog said. "The heart of the entire nation of Israel is skipping a beat at this moment as we pray for the recovery of the injured, pray for them and pray for those who have lost their lives."

Stocker: "Standing with Australia"
Austria's Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker also expressed his shock in a reaction on the short message platform X. "In these dark hours, we stand united at the side of our strategic partner Australia in the fight against violence, hatred and anti-Semitism." The head of government also conveyed his deepest condolences.