If you see flames or smell smoke, rest assured, it’s only a drill
Hamilton, Bermuda (December 15, 2025) – Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) today advised that a fire training exercise will be conducted at its Serpentine Road facility on Tuesday, December 16.
The exercise will involve a live fire on BELCO’s main campus. It is expected that the exercise may be visible to passersby and that there will be some smoke and odour during the training. The live fires will take place in the early afternoon following theory and hose management exercises.
The fires will be on BELCO property only and will be controlled and limited to wooden pallets that are safe to burn. The exercise will be entirely conducted under the supervision of Fire Life Safety Services.
BELCO Director of Occupational Support Services Mark Pacheco said: “The health and safety of our staff and the public is of paramount importance to our operations at BELCO. This exercise is part of our employee training and essential to ensure our fire safety staff and operational teams are prepared to prevent and, if necessary, manage or extinguish a fire should one occur on site. The exercise should have minimal impact on the public.”
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said earlier at a midday news conference that a man in his 20s had been taken into custody in connection with Saturday’s gun violence but gave no further details
International News via Reuters:
The man held as a “person of interest” in the Brown University shooting that left two students dead and nine injured will be released from custody, authorities said on Sunday night.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said earlier at a midday news conference that a man in his 20s had been taken into custody in connection with Saturday’s gun violence but gave no further details.
But at a late-night news conference hours later, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and other state and local officials told reporters the man detained would be released from custody, saying the investigation was going into a “different direction.”
“We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.
Officials declined to elaborate on why the man who was taken into custody was detained in the first place.
“There was a quantum of evidence which justified detaining this person as a person of interest,” Neronha said, adding that investigators later determined there was “no basis to believe that he’s a person of interest, so … he’s being released.”
Authorities said they believed an unidentified person pictured in surveillance footage to be the person they were still looking for.
FBI Director Kash Patel said earlier Sunday in a post on X that the person of interest had been detained in a hotel room in the Rhode Island town of Coventry, a 30-minute drive from the Brown campus. An FBI team specializing in cellular data analysis used geolocation information to track the suspect, Patel said.
While the killer was presumed to remain at large, authorities said on Sunday night they would not reimpose an initial shelter-in-place order for the campus and surrounding community that had been lifted.
The mass shooting — the latest of nearly 400 in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive — shook the community at the university, one of the oldest in the United States. The school canceled exams, and classes, for the rest of the year and the campus was quiet on Sunday as a light snowfall blanketed the city.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that authorities, as of midday on Sunday, had not yet contacted all of the victims’ family members because some were traveling. He invited residents to a previously planned event on Sunday to light a Christmas tree and a menorah to mark the first night of Hanukkah.
“It is quite clear that if we can come together as a community and shine a little bit of light tonight, I think there’s nothing better that we could be doing,” Smiley said.
AUTHORITIES RELEASE VIDEO OF SUSPECT
Seven people injured at Brown University were in stable condition, Smiley said. One remained in critical but stable condition, while another had been discharged, he added.
Shelter-in-place orders at the university and nearby areas were lifted on Sunday. Smiley said earlier in the day that residents should expect a visible police presence across the city.
The gunman fled after shooting students in a classroom in Brown’s Barus & Holley engineering and physics building, where outer doors had been left unlocked while exams were taking place, officials said on Saturday.
Authorities on Saturday released a short video clip of a person of interest dressed in black walking near the engineering building. Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said on Saturday the individual may have worn a mask, but officials were not certain.
Brown President Christina Paxson told reporters that all or nearly all of the victims were students, adding: “This is the day one hopes never happens, and it has.”
STUDENTS CAUGHT BY SURPRISE
Ref Bari, 22, a graduate student at Brown, said he was inside the Barus & Holley building when he heard a series of loud popping sounds that appeared to be gunfire.
Bari ran out of the building and asked another student running in the street if he could hide with her and her friends and she agreed. They returned to her basement apartment and hid in the bathroom.
“She trusted me,” he said. “The only connection between us is we’re both students at Brown but beyond that, we don’t know each other.”
Teaching assistant Joseph Oduro, 21, told CNN he was in a classroom that was attacked.
“The first couple of gunshots went straight to the chalkboard right where I was standing,” Oduro said. “Who knows, if I didn’t duck, maybe I’m not here today.”
A student next to him took two bullets to the leg and was due to undergo surgery on Sunday, he said.
Jack DiPrimio, another graduate student at Brown, said he was initially not concerned when the university went on lockdown because he had experienced many active-shooter drills. The drills have become more common in the U.S. as attacks targeting students have increased.
“I had faced so many lockdowns in high school and even a few at my undergrad, so I wasn’t that worried at first,” DiPrimio said in a TikTok video after coming out of a five-hour lockdown. “Maybe I was desensitized.”
Reporting by Maria Alejandra Cardona in Providence and Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Additional reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru, Katharine Jackson, Douglas Gillison and Jason Lange in Washington, Jessica DiNapoli and Chris Prentice in New York, Keval Singh in Singapore and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Writing by Ted Hesson and Steve Gorman; Editing by Sergio Non, Christina Fincher, Bill Berkrot, Diane Craft and Stephen Coates
Bermuda’s Paradise Hitters Volleyball Club teams endured a difficult second day at the 2025 Nike Florida Holiday Challenge Volleyball Tournament, with both the 17 & Under and 15 & Under squads recording losses in highly competitive matches.
The Paradise Hitters 17 & Under team suffered three defeats during a challenging run. They opened the day with a 2-0 loss to Fission 17 Elite 1, falling in straight sets 25-17 and 25-12.
However, the team showed tremendous fighting spirit in their remaining two matches, pushing both contests to a deciding third set. In the Silver Pool A Division, they fell 2-1 to JJVA 17 Gold. After losing the first set, they battled back to win the second 25-20, only to be narrowly edged out in the tie-breaker, 15-13. Their final match against QVA 17 Hydrogen followed a similar pattern—winning the second set 25-20 after losing the first—but ultimately falling 2-1 as QVA took the final set 15-8.
Meanwhile, the Paradise Hitters 15 & Under team finished Day Two with an 0-2 record after a strong start to the tournament. In the Gold Pool 1 Division, they went down 2-1 to Hunter’s 15U Red Travel. The Bermudians claimed the first set 25-22, but Hunter’s rallied to win the next two sets 25-21 and 15-12. Their second and final match of the day ended in a 2-0 straight-set loss to Fission 15 Elite 1, with scores of 25-17 and 25-15.
Jake Brislane and Estienne Coetzee were crowned the Bermuda Red Cross Jingle Bell 5K Run Male and Female Champions after a successful race day. The annual event saw a strong field compete, with the top finishers delivering impressive times.
In the men’s race, Jake Brislane delivered a commanding performance to break the tape and secure the title. Brislane clocked a time of 15:54, finishing well clear of the field.
The battle for the remaining podium places was tight, with Sanchez Smith crossing the line second in 16:25. Dylan Eiselt rounded out the men’s podium, finishing third with a time of 17:06.
Estienne Coetzee secured the Female Champion title, finishing as the 11th runner overall. Coetzee was clocked at 18:03 to take the top spot in the women’s division.
The women’s podium saw a close contest for second and third place. Colette Durkin was the second female finisher and 18th overall, clocking a time of 18:24. Completing the female podium was Evelyn Fahy, who was the 20th runner overall with a time of 18:28, just four seconds behind Durkin.
The Welcome Home Show at the Botanical Gardens hosted a fiercely competitive JUMPING Team Competition, with Team Roger Broox General Trucking – BLUE securing the top spot thanks to a consistent performance from their riders.
Roger Broox General Trucking emerged as the clear winners, posting the lowest overall score of 131.31. The victorious effort was spearheaded by Captain Abby Bardgett riding Causing Chaos and Kayla Bardgett aboard Martini on the Rocks. The team, which also included Jasmine Heinz on Red Sky at Night, managed to claim the victory despite not fielding a Category B rider.
The fight for the remaining podium spots was close and hard-fought. Team Rayclan finished in second place with a total score of 144.18. Their line-up featured Captain Patrick Nisbett (Acocetto HS), Vee Mckey (Harrison), and Matilda Boyce (Sunny Days), who also competed without a Category B rider.
Third place was claimed by Team Swizzle Inn, who accumulated a final score of 160.51. This team comprised Captain Raishun Burch, Julia Cooper (Colbi Moon), Paige Lindo (Moxie), and Daisy Cooper (Storm Watch).
Finishing in fourth place was Team Auto Solutions with a score of 183.98. The team included Captain Jaylynn Hines (Toto D’ysenbeeck Z), Lily Butler (Farsi Forza), and Laura Lister (Delta’s Roulette), though they lacked a Category A rider.
Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom each released statements confirming that Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68, had died
International News via Reuters:
Actor-director and political activist Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, and police are investigating the circumstances as an apparent homicide, authorities said.
While police declined to publicly identify the two people found deceased, Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom each released statements confirming that Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68, had died.
“This is a devastating loss for our city and our country. Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” the mayor wrote.
The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement on social media calling the case an “apparent homicide.” Police had not detained anyone for questioning nor identified a suspect as of Sunday night, Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told a press conference.
LAPD patrol officers dispatched to the home late Sunday afternoon discovered two bodies inside the residence. Emergency personnel had first responded to a call for medical aid, a city fire department official said earlier.
Detectives of the LAPD’s robbery-homicide unit were waiting for a search warrant before entering the home to conduct a thorough search and full-fledged investigation of the premises, Hamilton said, adding that a cause of death will be made public by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
FROM ‘MEATHEAD’ TO ‘SPINAL TAP’
As an actor, Reiner was best remembered for his role on the 1970s CBS television comedy hit “All in the Family” as Mike “Meathead” Stivic, the son-in-law and liberal foil of the lead character, working-class bigot Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor.
The role garnered Reiner two Emmy awards for outstanding supporting actor.
Reiner went on to have a prolific Hollywood career as a director, starting with “This is Spinal Tap,” a 1984 mockumentary following the trials and tribulations of a fictional hard rock band on tour. The satiric film became a cult classic, known for its mostly improvised script, with Reiner playing the faux documentary filmmaker Marty DiBergi.
The movie worked, Reiner later said, because of the cast’s love for rock ‘n’ roll.
“That was the trick – to make fun of it and at the same time, honor it,” Reiner told CBS News show “60 Minutes” in an interview marking the launch of this year’s sequel, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” which he also directed and appeared in.
Reiner directed nearly two dozen films in all, including classics such as “Stand by Me,” a 1986 coming-of-age drama about four boys who set out to find the body of a missing youth, as well as 1989’s “When Harry Met Sally …,” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.
That film, often cited as one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, featured the famed line, “I’ll have what she’s having,” delivered by the director’s real-life mother, Estelle Reiner, playing a bit part as a diner reacting to Ryan’s character faking an orgasm in a restaurant.
Versatile across a range of genres, Reiner directorial credits also included the 1987 fairy tale adventure “The Princess Bride,” the 1990 psychological thriller “Misery,” an adaptation of a Stephen King novel starring Kathy Bates and James Caan, and the 1992 military courtroom drama “A Few Good Men,” starring Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Demi Moore.
PROGRESSIVE CAUSES
Reiner’s wife, Michele, was at one time a photographer who captured the image of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book “Trump: The Art of the Deal.”
Rob Reiner, a native of New York City and the son of the late comedy writer and actor Carl Reiner, was also well known as a Democratic Party activist and advocate of various liberal social causes.
In the 2004 presidential election, he backed Democratic candidate John Kerry and featured in advertisements taking aim at incumbent President George W. Bush. Reiner also supported Democratic presidential hopefuls Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.
He campaigned against California Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot measure that amended the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Prop 8 was later overturned by the courts and formally repealed by another voter initiative.
He led a separate campaign to pass Proposition 10, a state ballot initiative that created an early childhood development services program.
Reiner was first married to Penny Marshall, who played Laverne in the TV sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” and was also a producer and director. He was an adoptive father to Marshall’s daughter and had three children with Michele Singer.
Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Dietrich Knauth in New York; Editing by Sergio Non and Edwina Gibbs
The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 jumped 0.9% by 10:26 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 index added 0.66%
International News via Reuters:
UK stocks edged higher on Monday, starting the week on a positive note, with markets having almost fully priced in an interest rate cut by the Bank of England later this week.
The UK’s blue-chip FTSE 100 jumped 0.9% by 10:26 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 index added 0.66%. Both indexes ended lower for a second consecutive week of declines on Friday.
According to a Reuters poll, analysts expect a narrow 5-4 vote to lower the benchmark rate to 3.75% from 4.0%, marking the first reduction since August and bringing borrowing costs to a three-year low.
Governor Andrew Bailey’s stance is seen as pivotal after recent data showed inflation easing to 3.6% in October, with further declines expected.
Analysts see Bailey’s vote as crucial, with easing inflation strengthening the case for a cut. While rate expectations dominated sentiment, gains in precious metals added further support to the market.
An index of personal goods, dominated by luxury names, led with a 2.3% jump, after China announced plans to expand exports and imports next year as part of efforts to promote what it called “sustainable” trade. Burberry rose 2.6% and Watches of Switzerland Group added 2.3%.
Precious metal miners were up 1% as gold held near a seven-week high and silver extended gains against a softer dollar.[GOL/]
Banks were also a standout, up 1.3%, with with Standard Chartered gaining 2.1% and Barclays adding 1.8%. Industrial metals and mining stocks advanced 1.25%, with Glencore up 1.3% and Antofagasta up 2.8%.
Among individual stocks, Hikma Pharmaceuticals fell 1.4% to the bottom of the FTSE 100 after the drugmaker said its CEO Riad Mishlawi is stepping down, with Executive Chairman and former CEO Said Darwazah assuming the responsibilities of the top role.
Primark-owner Associated British Foods fell 1% after Jefferies cut its rating to “underperform” from “hold” and cut its target price to 1800 pence from 2000 pence.
Britain’s biggest defence company BAE Systems slipped 1% in step with weaker European defence sector.
Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi and Nikhil Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid
The landmark case has drawn international scrutiny of Hong Kong’s judicial independence amid a years-long crackdown on rights and freedoms in the global financial hub
International News via Reuters:
Hong Kong’s High Court found tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai guilty on Monday of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces in the city’s highest-profile trial under a China-imposed national security law that could see him jailed for life.
The landmark case has drawn international scrutiny of Hong Kong’s judicial independence amid a years-long crackdown on rights and freedoms in the global financial hub after 2019 pro-democracy protests that Beijing saw as a challenge to its rule.
While 78-year-old Lai’s supporters see him as a freedom fighter, Beijing regards him as a mastermind of the protests and a conspirator advocating for U.S. sanctions against Hong Kong and the mainland. Chinese authorities have rejected accusations of eroding the city’s rule of law.
SENTENCING EXPECTED NEXT YEAR
“There is no doubt” that Lai “had harboured his resentment and hatred of” China for many of his adult years, Judge Esther Toh told a packed courtroom as the tycoon, wearing a pale green jumper and a grey jacket, sat with his arms folded.
The two other judges in his case were Alex Lee and Susana D’Almada Remedios.
Lai, the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper and one of the most prominent critics of China’s Communist Party leadership, has already spent five years in jail, facing a slew of litigation under the sweeping security legislation that Beijing enacted in response to the 2019 protests.
A pre-sentencing hearing at which Lai can plead for lenience is scheduled for January 12. His lawyer, Steven Kwan, said Lai would decide whether to appeal after the sentencing.
Hong Kong leader John Lee and national security police chief Steve Li told reporters on Monday they welcomed the verdict.
“The judiciary is confident and unafraid of any intimidation and firmly discharges its responsibility to safeguard national security,” the city’s leader said at the airport before a regular visit to Beijing.
Lai, who suffers from health issues including diabetes and high blood pressure, was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one of conspiracy to publish seditious material. He had pleaded not guilty on all counts.
The verdict bookends a year that marked the essential disappearance of Hong Kong’s democratic opposition under pressure from Beijing. The Democratic Party voted to disband on Sunday.
RIGHTS GROUPS CRITICISE THE VERDICT
Lai’s trial began in December 2023, with the verdict seen as a potential fresh diplomatic flashpoint in the former British colony that reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
U.S. President Donald Trump raised Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting in October and has said he would do his utmost to “save” Lai.
Britain condemned Lai’s “politically-motivated prosecution” in a statement on Monday by its foreign office, calling for his immediate release.
China’s foreign ministry said it “deplores” countries smearing Hong Kong’s justice system, urging respect for China’s sovereignty.
Lai’s son Sebastien told a London press conference that the conviction was the perfect example of how the national security law had been weaponised “against someone who essentially said stuff that they didn’t like”.
“It’s hard to smear the Hong Kong legal system more than this judgment and more than this trial,” he said.
Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, called the verdict a “sham conviction” and “a disgraceful act of persecution”.
“Jimmy Lai’s only crime is running a newspaper and defending democracy,” she said.
Other groups, such as Amnesty International, and pro-democracy activists who fled the city after the protests fearing prosecution have also condemned the verdict.
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments have said his trial was “fair and just” and that the national security law treats all equally. They have said no freedoms are absolute when it comes to safeguarding national security.
Lai’s family say his health has worsened after more than 1,800 days in solitary confinement.
Sebastien Lai said his father had lost 10 kg (22 pounds) in the last year alone. “This is a man who is very much in a horrible situation,” he told a press conference.
CITY MOURNING FIRE VICTIMS
The verdict comes at a delicate moment for Hong Kong, where residents have been mourning after a fire last month killed at least 160 people in one of the worst blazes in a residential complex globally in recent years.
Authorities have warned they would crack down on anyone who tried to use the fire to “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” of 2019.
After the verdict, China’s national security office in Hong Kong called Lai a “pawn of external anti-China forces” who attempted a “colour revolution” in the city.
“We strongly condemn the political manipulation of Hong Kong by a small number of Western politicians and anti-China media under the guise of ‘human rights’ and ‘freedom’, openly exonerating Jimmy Lai,” it said in a statement.
Additional reporting by Clare Jim, Joyce Zhou, Anne Marie Roantree, Donny Kwok and Farah Master; writing by Marius Zaharia; Editing by William Mallard, Michael Perry, Kate Mayberry and Alex Richardson
The death toll from the cyclone-induced floods and landslides, which destroyed houses and forced people into evacuation centres on Sumatra in late November, reached 1,030 as of Monday, with 206 people still missing
International News via Reuters:
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday that activities in areas on Sumatra that were hit by deadly floods may return to normal in the next two to three months, after a disaster that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
The death toll from the cyclone-induced floods and landslides, which destroyed houses and forced people into evacuation centres on Sumatra in late November, reached 1,030 as of Monday, with 206 people still missing, according to official data.
The storms also killed about 200 people in southern Thailand and Malaysia.
Prabowo told a cabinet meeting on Monday that reconstruction in the three affected provinces was already underway, adding that he had already apologised because authorities could not realistically complete the process in a matter of days.
“I don’t have the staff of Moses,” he said, referring to the biblical figure’s ability to perform miracles. “We cannot finish this in 3-5 days. Perhaps in 2-3 months, activities will return to normal.”
Prabowo said authorities would soon build hundreds of temporary homes for those displaced. Reconstruction on Sumatra is expected to cost at least $3.11 billion, senior government officials have said.
Green groups say deforestation linked to mining and logging exacerbated the impact of the floods.
Indonesia’s environment ministry has temporarily halted the operations of the companies accused of violations, and that it will require them to perform environmental audits.
Prabowo on Monday said any company found in an audit to have violated rules should have its permit revoked.
Indonesia’s forest minister said earlier on Monday that the country will revoke 22 forest use permits covering over 1 million hectares.
The revoked permits included more than 100,000 hectares on Sumatra, but the minister did not link the revocation directly to the floods.
Prabowo also said on Monday that the situation on Sumatra was under control, adding that foreign leaders had offered aid.
“I said, thanks for your concern, we can handle it,” he said.
Reporting by Stanley Widianto and Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by David Stanway
Funds to support Coalition for the Protection of Children programmes
Image supplied.
PartnerRe Ltd. is proud to announce that the 28th Annual PartnerRe Women’s 5K Run & Walk raised BMD 20,000 for this year’s recipient charity, The Coalition for the Protection of Children. PartnerRe matched the amount, bringing the total contribution to BMD 40,000.
PartnerRe underwrites the full cost of the event and matches funds raised through race entries, supporting sponsors, and participant donations. This year’s contribution will support programs that empower and uplift women and families across Bermuda.
The event promotes female fitness, health, safety, and self-esteem, with all proceeds supporting causes that are aligned to these values.
The event, held in early October at the Botanical Gardens, Paget, was presented by the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Club (MAAC), sanctioned by the Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA), and is the island’s largest all-female sporting event.
The race attracts 600 women and girls who participate in the 5K run, 5K walk, and 2K junior run, and celebrates fitness, health, and community solidarity under the theme “Women Helping Women.”
“The Coalition for the Protection of Children is both thrilled and honored to be this year’s charity chosen for PartnerRe’s annual 5K event,” said Kelly Hunt, Executive Director of The Coalition for the Protection of Children. “These funds will support struggling moms with empowering skill development, hardship support, and life coaching. We cannot do this work and offer these services without the support of the community, so we want to extend our warmest appreciation to the organizers and participants who made this an incredible day of women showing up for women.”
“Thank you to all of the participants, volunteers and MAAC race directors whose energy and dedication helped to make this year’s event such a success,” said Jaime Masters McDowell, race organizer and Head of Communications at PartnerRe. “As a company headquartered in Bermuda, our commitment to supporting women and families here is central to this initiative. By matching the funds raised, we’re helping ensure the Coalition can continue its vital work across the island.”
“MAAC is delighted to be able to support the annual PartnerRe 5k Run & Walk and ensure the event is enjoyable and safe for all participants. It is fantastic to see females of all ages and abilities taking part in one of the biggest events in Bermuda’s running calendar” said Ailish Byrne, MAAC Race Director.
Since its inception in 1998, the PartnerRe Women’s 5K Run & Walk has raised over $580,000 for female-focused causes in Bermuda.
Concerns raised about hazards for residents, MAWI staff and emergency services
Screenshot
Thomas Christopher Famous JP, MP C 11 Devonshire East issued the following statement.
Despite the recent installation of official Works and Engineering NO Parking signs along Devon Spring Road, and the creation of new, underutilized parking spots, patrons of the Barn continue to park illegally.
This selfish disregard for the signs is creating a severe hazard, as these vehicles frequently block the road. This obstruction is not just an inconvenience for the scores of residents and hundreds of MAWI employees but, critically, it impedes access for Emergency Service Vehicles. In the event of a fire at a nearby residence, Fire and Rescue services would be delayed, potentially with catastrophic consequences.
We have received numerous reports and images this week documenting this persistent bad parking behavior on Devon Spring Road. Furthermore, upon speaking with the manager of the Barn this week, they expressed their own frustration and displeasure with this continued lack of respect for the official signage. Those patronizing the Barn need to consider those who live and work in the neighborhood. Further, those who violate the rules need to be ticketed, towed and or clamped.
Forty-three-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed was identified on social media as the bystander who hid behind parked cars before charging at the gunman from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground
International News via Reuters:
A Sydney resident who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers during the mass shooting at Bondi Beach is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery for bullet wounds to his arm and hand, his family said.
Forty-three-year-old Ahmed al Ahmed was identified on social media as the bystander who hid behind parked cars before charging at the gunman from behind, seizing his rifle and knocking him to the ground.
Australian police on Monday said a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son carried out the attack at a Jewish celebration on Sunday afternoon, killing 15 people in the country’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.
“My son is a hero. He served in the police, he has the passion to defend people,” Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Fateh al Ahmed, told state broadcaster ABC News in an interview.
He said that Ahmed is an Australian citizen and sells fruits and vegetables.
“When he saw people lying on the ground and the blood, quickly his conscience pushed him to attack one of the terrorists and take away his weapon,” Mohamed Fateh said.
Jozay Alkanji, Ahmed’s cousin, speaking while he was leaving the hospital in Sydney on Monday evening, said: “He’s done the first surgery. I think he’s got two or three surgeries, that depends on the doctor, what he says.”
Tributes have poured in from leaders both abroad and at home.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Ahmed “a very, very brave person” who saved many lives. Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state where Sydney is located, has hailed him “a genuine hero” and said the video was “the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen”.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Ahmed with just over A$1,000,000 ($665,100) raised in a few hours. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was the largest donor, contributing A$99,999 and sharing the fundraiser on his X account.
Outside St George Hospital in the Sydney suburb of Kogarah, where Ahmed is being treated, strangers came to show their support.
Misha and Veronica Pochuev came to the hospital with their seven-year-old daughter, Miroslava, to drop off flowers for Ahmed.
“My husband is Russian, my father is Jewish, my grandpa is Muslim. This is not only about Bondi, this is about every person,” Veronica said.
Miroslava held the bouquet with a note that read “To Ahmed: for courage and saved lives”.
Yomna Touni, 43, is raising money to help Ahmed’s recovery.
“He potentially saved many people yesterday, and that, for us, from an Islamic perspective, is to have saved all of mankind, you know,” Touni said.
“Killing one person is like killing all of mankind, and that’s what those terrorists did.”
($1 = 1.5035 Australian dollars)
Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Michael Perry and Saad Sayeed
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