Up to six people were killed and multiple people injured after a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. The attack reportedly took place at 3:30 p.m. local time when a 40-year-old man pulled out a knife and began attacking people in the Westfield Bondi Junction mall.
Five women and one man were dead in the incident while seven people were injured and are not at local hospitals receiving treatment for their wounds. The wounded victims include a 9-month-old baby.
According to Australia police, the attacker is now dead after an officer chased him down and shot him after he turned his back at her with the knife.
As New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke narrated, “She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five [of the mall] as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him. He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.”
Video footage said to be from the attack shows a young man with beards wearing a rugby shirt and wielding a knife as shoppers at the mall fled in panic.
According to a witness at the scene who spoke to the New York Times, shooting the attacker saved lives that day because the attacker “would have kept going” had the female officer not shoot him.
Police have not found anything that indicates a motive in the attack. However, they believe
The suspect was “known” and they have ruled out fears of the incident being a terrorist attack.
“If it is in fact the person that we believe it is, then we don’t have fears for that person holding an ideation — in other words, it’s not a terrorism incident. Let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased,” New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the attack, saying, “This was a horrific act of violence indiscriminately targeted at the innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday, doing their shopping.”
“Our nation offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those who are grieving for someone they have lost and we send our strength to those who have been injured. Today at Bondi Junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow Australians, our brave police, our first responders and of course, everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment,” he continued.
U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy also expressed sympathy for victims of the attack in a post to X.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the events at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney today. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were lost, and wish the injured a speedy and complete recovery,” she wrote.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the events at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney today. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were lost, and wish the injured a speedy and complete recovery. —Ambassador Kennedy
— U.S. Embassy Australia (@USEmbAustralia) April 13, 2024
