An Indian-origin man who helped restrain one of the alleged shooters during the Bondi Beach attack in Australia has spoken about acting on instinct to protect lives and assist those in danger.
The December 14 attack unfolded during a Jewish festival gathering at the popular Sydney beach. Fifteen people lost their lives after a father and son opened fire on crowds. Around 40 others suffered injuries, including three Indian students. Australian authorities later described the incident as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.
Amandeep Singh-Bola, 34, ran toward danger after realizing gunfire had erupted nearby. Born in New Zealand to Indian and Kiwi parents, Singh-Bola was spending a quiet evening at the beach when the violence began. He initially mistook the sound of gunshots for fireworks while eating a kebab and watching the sunset.
Once the threat became clear, Singh-Bola sprinted onto a bridge where the shooter was firing at people. With support from a police officer, he tackled and restrained the suspect, later identified as Sajid Akram, a 50-year-old Sydney resident.
“I jumped on top of [the shooter] and grabbed his arms. The police officer helped me and said not to let him go,” Singh-Bola told SBS News.
“I wanted to help get one of [the alleged shooters] down, or just help anybody that needed help,” he said.
Singh-Bola, a personal trainer by profession, described a moment of intense focus during the confrontation. “It was almost like tunnel vision – just trying to hide behind things and not be seen, just trying to find out where he was. Once I saw where he was, nothing else really mattered,” he said.
Police shot the alleged gunman during the struggle. Singh-Bola said he remained on top of Akram and sensed life fading away. Addressing the aftermath, he added, “I had just smashed back a kebab with spicy sauce on it, so I was actually sick from the run down.”
Sajid Akram was later identified as an Indian citizen from Hyderabad who migrated to Australia 27 years ago. His 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, an Australian citizen, sustained injuries during the incident.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed investigators were treating the Bondi Beach shooting as a terrorist attack, marking one of the deadliest assaults in recent Australian history.
