Key facts
- Ahmed al Ahmed, who disarmed a gunman during the Bondi Beach massacre, had assault charges against him dismissed.
- He faced charges of assault and intimidation related to an alleged incident on March 9.
- Prosecutors withdrew both counts against Al Ahmed on Tuesday.
- An apprehended domestic violence order protecting his father will remain in place for 12 months.
Ahmed al Ahmed, the man who disarmed a gunman during the Bondi Beach massacre, has had assault charges against him dismissed. Al Ahmed, 44, had been accused of putting his father in a headlock on March 9 and intimidation over an alleged incident in June. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. Prosecutors confirmed on Wednesday they had withdrawn both counts. An apprehended domestic violence order protecting his father will remain in place for 12 months.
In June, Al Ahmed's lawyer, Mohamad Sakr, emphasized that Al Ahmed maintained his innocence, calling the situation a difficult family matter and highlighting his client's heroic actions. At the time the charges were laid, Al Ahmed alleged that his family members were seeking a portion of the $2.5 million raised for him following his actions during the massacre. He described the situation as "untrue" and "extortion," stating his brothers had been harassing him for money.
His brothers, Sameh and Hozifa, pleaded not guilty to charges of using a carriage service to menace or harass, related to claims they attempted to extort $200,000 from their brother. An interim domestic violence prevention order prohibits them from approaching within 100 meters of Al Ahmed. Al Ahmed gained international attention after video footage of him disarming a gunman during the Bondi massacre went viral. He was shot multiple times during the incident and received a visit from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the hospital. He was also awarded the keys to the cities of Canterbury-Bankstown and Waverley.