An Iranian asylum seeker hailed as a hero for confronting one of the alleged gunmen in the Bondi massacre is still facing deportation from Australia due to his criminal record. Footage from the December 14 attack shows the man running onto a footbridge after police shot Sajid Akram and wounded his son, Naveed Akram. He kicked a firearm away from the injured younger man before being mistaken for an attacker, tackled by bystanders and briefly confronted by police.

The attack left 15 people dead before it ended with the elder Akram shot dead and his son taken into custody. The Iranian man later told investigators he acted out of a sense of duty, saying he thought of his own family as he heard gunfire and saw civilians fleeing. After police realised he was not involved in the shooting, he remained at the scene to assist the wounded.

Despite his actions, he faces removal from Australia because of prior convictions, including assault and stalking, as well as a pending drug supply charge laid a day before the massacre. His temporary humanitarian visa has been cancelled under the character test, and authorities are considering deporting him to an offshore processing centre. His lawyer argues he would be at risk if returned to Iran and says he deserves the chance to remain with his Australian partner and children.

His case contrasts with other foreign nationals who intervened in recent Australian attacks and were quickly granted permanent residency. The government has not provided an update on whether it will proceed with his deportation.