A viral post on X, with more than 80,000 views, claims: "Edward Crabtree, a 43-year-old father of two and local fruit shop owner, has been identified as a SAVIOUR after bravely disarming one of the Islamic terrorists at #bondibeach, Australia."

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DW Fact check: False Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, confirmed during a press conference that the man is Ahmed al Ahmed, not Edward Crabtree. Burke praised Ahmed alongside first responders for risking their lives to stop the attackers. "The police who were there standing together against the attackers, first responders standing together against the attackers, and even a bystander like Ahmed al Ahmed, standing there putting their own lives at risk against those attackers," said Burke. Ahmed is currently hospitalized. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns visited him and shared a photo on Facebook, calling him a "real-life hero." "Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk. It was an honor to spend time with him just now and to pass on the thanks of people across NSW," wrote Minns.

Reviewed by Deutsche Welle ↗ · December 15, 2025