The bystander who tackled one of the gunmen in the attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney was seriously injured, according to Australian officials, who on Monday identified him as Ahmed el Ahmed. He is recovering in a hospital.

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Anthony Albanese singled out Ahmed at a press conference on Monday, paying tribute to his actions as an example of “Australians coming together”.

“Ahmed al-Ahmed … took the gun off that perpetrator at great risk to himself and suffered serious injury as a result of that, and is currently going through operations today in hospital,” Albanese said.

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, visited Ahmed in hospital and posted on Instagram praising the “real-life hero”.

“Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk,” Minns wrote. “There is no doubt that more lives would have been lost if not for [Ahmed’s] selfless courage.”

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