Hush-hush details of Bondi massacre hero's mysterious trip to the US are revealed - as his controversial Sharri Markson interview is SCRAPPED after row with Sky News Australia | Retrui News | Retrui
Hush-hush details of Bondi massacre hero's mysterious trip to the US are revealed - as his controversial Sharri Markson interview is SCRAPPED after row with Sky News Australia
SOURCE:Daily Mail
Mr Al Ahmed is no longer being represented by migration lawyer Sam Issa and on Friday engaged media specialist Ian Robertson, chair of corporate and commercial law firm Holding Redlich.
Bondi Beach massacre hero Ahmed Al Ahmed will fly to the US next week for a series of secret meetings after pulling out of an interview with Sky News Australia.
Mr Al Ahmed is no longer being represented by migration lawyer Sam Issa and on Friday engaged media specialist Ian Robertson, chair of corporate and commercial law firm Holding Redlich.
Mr Robertson, who is not charging for his services, told the Daily Mail that Mr Al Ahmed had put all media interviews on hold while he travels to the US.
'He's going to America at the beginning of next week and he's not giving any interviews to anyone until then, including Sky News, and I've told them that,' Mr Robertson said.
'Part of that frankly is his health's still not brilliant. All of this has been very stressful and it's been made worse by being hounded by the media.'
Asked what Mr Al Ahmed would be doing in the US, Mr Robertson would say only that he was going there 'for a number of meetings but the details are currently confidential'.
'I think it's fair to say he's less than thrilled with Sky News,' Mr Robertson said.
Bondi Beach massacre hero Ahmed Al Ahmed will fly to the US next week for a series of secret meetings after pulling out of an interview with Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson. Mr Al Ahmed and Markson are pictured
Mr Al Ahmed, pictured on Tuesday at Crown Towers in Sydney's Barangaroo, has engaged media specialist Ian Robertson, chair of corporate and commercial law firm Holding Redlich
'I've only been engaged for a matter of hours and I've just met him. He's a nice fellow. This is not a guy who is kind of aggressive or is going to attack people.
'I think he’s a bit amazed at the spotlight he's found himself in.'
Indian national Sajid Akram, 50, and his Australian-born son Naveed, 24, allegedly opened fire on a crowd celebrating the Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach on December 14.
Fifteen people - including a 10-year-old girl - were killed in the attack, which police have said was inspired by Islamic State and directed at Jews.
Mr Al Ahmed, who sold his Sydney tobacco shop while in hospital, was wounded while disarming Sajid Akram during the massacre, before the gunman was shot dead by police.
US President Donald Trump was among world leaders who praised Mr Al Ahmed's courage under fire at the scene of the atrocity.
Sky News Australia claimed on Tuesday the 43-year-old offered to do a full sit-down interview with Markson on his release from hospital last weekend
In return, the news channel said it arranged his $6,000-a-night suite at Crown Casino's Barangaroo hotel on Sydney CBD's harbourfront.
Mr Al Ahmed, who owns a Sydney tobacco shop, was wounded while disarming terrorist Sajid Akram during the December 14 massacre, before the gunman was shot dead by police
Ahmed Al Ahmed seen with his parents on the balcony of the Villa at Crown in Barangaroo
But the broadcaster claimed Mr Al Ahmed decided not to go ahead with the interview at the last moment, prompting a Sky News article which revealed all the arrangements allegedly made.
Mr Al Ahmed subsequently spoke out on his newly-launched Instagram account @ahmedalahmedsydneyhero - now relaunched as @ahmedalahmedsydney - to accuse Sky News of omitting key details in their version of events.
'The report published by Sky News does not fully reflect the facts and contains selective information that lacks accuracy,' he posted on Wednesday.
'We strongly believe in the importance of professional journalism and present the full facts to the public out of respect for our audience, while reserving our legal rights.
'They didn't even care about my health condition!'
The post was later deleted after the Daily Mail contacted Sky News Australia about it.
The statement came after the channel's head of programs, Mark Calvert, penned a lengthy article for the Sky News website which described the day as 'frustrating' and at times 'surreal'.
According to Calvert, Markson was contacted on Christmas Day by Mr Al Ahmed's former lawyer, who asked if she would like to interview his client after he was discharged from hospital.
Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has been discharged from hospital two weeks after being shot
Naveed Akram (pictured) is accused of killing 15 and injuring dozens more
Mr Al Ahmed later spoke directly with Markson from his hospital bed on Boxing Day, recounting how he intervened during the attack when he believed the gunman was moving towards a larger group of Jewish people.
During those conversations, he said he would like to visit the Bondi memorial site with Markson to release six white doves, one for each of the major religions in Australia.
He also suggested survivors and relatives of victims could join him.
Calvert said Sky News met all of Mr Al Ahmed's requests, sourcing the white doves, lining up Jewish community members, and booking a camera crew.
He said staff - including Markson herself - were recalled from Christmas leave and Crown Sydney provided the luxury hotel suite for three nights.
On the morning of the planned interview, Mr Al Ahmed reportedly set up social media accounts under the name @ahmedalahmedsydneyhero.
He also showed Markson photographs of his injuries, including images of five bullet wounds to his arm, along with footage of him tackling the gunman.
Over breakfast at the hotel, Markson presented Mr Al Ahmed with a silver Star of David necklace as a gesture of gratitude from herself and members of the Jewish community.
On Tuesday Mr Al Ahmed was visited by Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Amir Mamon, and NSW Premier Chris Minns
Sky executives said the interview at that stage appeared ready to proceed.
He told staff he would briefly return to his room to freshen up and greet his parents who had just arrived at the hotel, before joining the film crew.
He did not return, and as the scheduled time passed, the news crew's calls and messages went unanswered.
Calvert insisted Mr Al Ahmed had assured him personally that it would proceed.
'He looked me in the eye, and in front of his lawyer, cousins and Crown staff, Ahmed gave me a solemn promise,' Calvert wrote.
Mr Al Ahmed said he needed additional pain medication and would briefly return to hospital before coming back for the interview at 4pm.
That afternoon, Calvert claims Mr Al Ahmed's lawyer said tensions had emerged between himself and his client and he had 'sacked himself' from representing Mr Al Ahmed.
Mr Al Ahmed later answered a call and said he would still speak with Markson but the interview never took place, said Calvert.
Mr Al Ahmed took a gun from Sajid Akram before turning it on him and forced him to retreat
As Sky staff were leaving Crown Sydney that evening, Calvert claimed Mr Al Ahmed was seen returning with a cousin from the Barangaroo bar and dining precinct.
He told them he had withdrawn because he felt let down by someone close to him and was too upset to proceed, said Calvert.
Calvert wrote that Mr Al Ahmed gave no clear answer about rescheduling the interview or about the dove ceremony planned for Bondi.
However, Mr Al Ahmed continued to receive high-level visitors in the hotel suite.
On Tuesday, he was visited at Crown Towers by Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Amir Mamon, and NSW Premier Chris Minns.
The incident has prompted debate about the management of media access to Mr Al Ahmed, who has been widely praised for his actions during the attack.
Only a day earlier, Mr Al Ahmed had spoken with CBS News at the Crown suite.
He told Australian CBS journalist Anna Coren that despite being labelled a hero, his thoughts remained with the victims who did not survive.
'I know I saved lots of people's lives, innocent kids and women and men,' he said. 'But I still feel sorry for the lost.'
Footage from the attack showed Mr Al Ahmed leaping from behind a parked car and wrestling gunman Sajid Akram to the ground before he was wounded during a police firefight.
Doctors have removed a bullet from his shoulder and repaired nerve damage, though it is believed he may suffer permanent injury and require further surgery.
Last week, Mr Al Ahmed was presented with a $2.5million cheque as the proceeds from a global fundraiser that attracted more than 43,000 donations.
His tobacco business in Sydney's Sutherland Shire was sold while he was recovering in hospital.
Mr Al Ahmed's family, who live overseas, have been granted visas to travel to Australia to support his recovery. His parents, Mohamed and Malakeh, were already in Australia at the time of the attack, and his siblings have since arrived.
Naveed Akram, who was critically injured during a shootout with police at Bondi, has been charged with 59 offences - including 15 counts of murder.