World
Man who disarmed Sydney Bondi Beach attacker identified 43-year-old Ahmed Al Ahmed
Authorities have identified the civilian who intervened during the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney as Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, whose actions are being widely credited with preventing further loss of life.
Police confirmed that Al Ahmed confronted and disarmed one of the attackers during the chaos, despite being shot twice in the process.
He was transported to a hospital for treatment and is expected to recover, officials said.
The intervention occurred amid a mass shooting during a “Chanukah by the Sea” Hanukkah event on Sunday evening, which authorities are investigating as a suspected terror attack.
According to NSW Police, two gunmen opened fire on the crowded beachfront gathering shortly after 6:40 p.m., triggering panic as hundreds of attendees fled the area.
Officials report that dozens of shots were fired.
Video footage reviewed by investigators appears to show two individuals dressed in black firing what looked like shotgun-style weapons from an elevated footbridge behind the surf club.
Police later confirmed that at least 10 people were killed, with some briefings citing up to 12 fatalities as victim identification continues.
More than 11 people were injured, several critically. One suspect was killed at the scene, and another remains hospitalized in critical condition.
One of the suspected attackers has been identified as Naveed Akram, 24, as investigators work to determine motive and whether the attack was coordinated with others.
Authorities have described the incident as an antisemitic assault targeting a religious celebration.
The attack drew swift condemnation and expressions of condolence from leaders in Australia and abroad.
International reaction included criticism of the timing of an earlier social media post by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had shared Hanukkah greetings shortly before news of the attack broke; he later issued condolences.
Australian officials and Israel’s president publicly mourned the victims and praised the bravery of first responders and civilians who acted to protect others.
Police have increased security measures across Sydney and continue to urge the public to avoid the immediate area while the investigation remains active.
Further updates are expected as authorities release confirmed casualty figures and additional details regarding the suspects and circumstances of the attack.
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game — referred to on Roblox as an “experience” — that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
“We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,” the company said in a statement. “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspect’s digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.