Tragedy struck Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Centre in Sydney on Saturday afternoon as a stabbing rampage left six people dead, including the assailant, with several others seriously injured.
Among the deceased is the mother of a nine-month-old baby who underwent surgery following the attack.
Reports from 7 News confirm that the sixth victim is the mother of the infant, who succumbed to her wounds despite efforts to save her. The baby is currently receiving medical care at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
The incident unfolded when a male individual entered Westfield Bondi Junction around 3:20 pm, engaging with approximately nine people, according to Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke during a press briefing on Saturday evening. Cooke stated that the assailant, armed with a weapon, inflicted harm upon multiple individuals through stabbing.
Law enforcement officials intervened as a police officer confronted the attacker, who allegedly lunged at her with a knife. In response, the officer discharged a firearm, fatally neutralizing the assailant. Assistant Commissioner Cooke assured the public that the perpetrator acted alone, and there is no longer a threat to safety.
In a subsequent update, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb identified the attacker as a 40-year-old man with a known history to police. However, authorities do not suspect the incident to be a terror-related attack.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with reports of the attacker chasing and stabbing people before being confronted by police. Footage circulating on social media depicts multiple individuals lying on the ground, some receiving CPR, while others show a heavy police presence at the scene.
One witness recounted hearing gunshots and ‘blood-curdling’ screams. Another bystander described assisting a stabbed mother and her baby, desribing a distressing amount of blood at the scene.
The shopping centre was swiftly placed on lockdown as emergency services, including the police tactical operations unit, mobilised to respond to the incident. Waverley Council confirmed the police operation via Twitter, urging the public to avoid the area.
Incident at Bondi Junction Westfield.
Heard what sounded like gun shots when inside the centre and all ran out.
People running along top level of bridge pic.twitter.com/xoBUUt9hbk
— Ricardo Gonçalves (@BUSINESSricardo) April 13, 2024
Just In: A CCTV video of the attacker who is seen running behind people in the shopping centre with a knife in the hand. He is a middle-aged man wearing green tee and shorts. #BondiJunction #Australia #NewsUpGlobal pic.twitter.com/IvTJuryd1d
— NewsUp Global (@NewsUpGlobal) April 13, 2024
Ah… has all the hall marks of some crazy jihadist, especially the Aussie football shirt.
Twitter link disabled. I wonder why. The photograph from the earlier article shows a bearded man distinctly ME looking (but not necessarily Muslim except for the fact that he died, which means expendable so probably Muslim) wearing more Aussie gear than you could shake a stick at. I have seen clearer photographs of the surface of Mars. Known to the police but no name, no nothing except they are sure it wasn’t a terror attack. That says it all.
But it was a terror attack.
Now the authorities working up a sob story about the poor guy suffering racism which caused him mental distress which he solved by walking into a mall and stabbing women in the back and a nine month old baby because it was there. Then one police woman seemingly strolled into the mall and shot him conveniently dead. All over. No questions. Probably no identification because he was a ‘loner’ and so on. Media divert to ‘ Heroine Cop Woman’ (but not really because she took a gun to a knife fight) and how Aussie police are good blokes who protect you and keep you safe (in spite of the fact that 6 people are dead). Kudos and blah blah blah.
I’m sick of the lies. Are you?
I will not cooperate in any police investigation unless BASIC FACTS of the case are shared with the public.
‘Man with knife’ does NOT provide identifying facts.
Looking like a ME terrorist DOES!
The fact people are dead is horrific.
But in response to taking a gun to a knife fight, one person has said to me “have you ever tried to take a crayon off a toddler and not get covered in crayon”.
The world is falling apart….my sympathy to the families of the victims…a child will grow up without a mother,…very sad.