A nurse who threatened Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital has expressed remorse through her family member, The Australian reported Wednesday, as dramatic scenes unfolded outside her Sydney residence.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh is experiencing "an extreme panic attack" following the release of a video showing antisemitic threats, her uncle told The Australian outside her home. The incident led to her suspension alongside fellow nurse Ahmad Nadir.
"Of course she is, of course she is," the uncle said when asked if she was sorry, The Australian reported. "She will come out and make a statement when she's ready, but you can't talk to her now because she's having a panic attack, an anxiety attack. We might be calling the ambulance for her."
Lebdeh obtained her diploma in nursing five years ago and began working at NSW Health in February 2021. Her colleague Nadir, who became an Australian citizen four years ago after immigrating from Afghanistan, has also apologized "to the Jewish community and anyone I've offended."
"Whatever happened, it was just a misunderstanding and a big mistake – just entirely mistaken, do you know what I mean?" Nadir told The Australian at his Bankstown residence, noting he needed to speak with police before commenting further.
The scene grew tense when family members confronted a reporter from The Australian outside Lebdeh's home. A confrontation ensued when a young man temporarily seized the journalist's phone, while family members demanded the deletion of recordings – despite the reporter noting he was legally permitted to record in public spaces.
The family members of Sarah Abu Lebdah - the Sydney-based Islamist extremist nurse who recorded herself threatening to kill Jews under her care (with the claim of having already done so) - assaulted a journalist from The Australian and stole his phone. pic.twitter.com/B5r7jRgBza
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) February 12, 2025
Both nurses remain suspended from Bankstown Hospital as authorities continue their investigation into the incident, which garnered widespread attention after the video circulated online.
