Sydney Stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction leaves six people dead, with alleged attacker being shot and killed.
Police report that a knife attack at a Sydney shopping center has resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, with several more injured and hospitalized. The motive behind the attack is still unknown. People fleeing the scene at Bondi Junction, a major commercial area in eastern Sydney, helped direct a lone police officer who ultimately shot and killed the attacker.The suspect, as confirmed by authorities, is no longer a danger and acted alone.
NSW Police confirmed that a shooting occurred at a Westfield Shopping mall in Sydney’s busy Bondi Junction suburb after receiving multiple reports of stabbings.
In a statement, New South Wales Police advised people to stay away from the area. Investigations are ongoing regarding the incident, and no additional information is available.
Westfield Bondi Junction received an emergency services call just before 4 p.m. after the stabbing reports, police said.
A New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson told Reuters news agency that eight people, including a child, had been taken to hospital.
According to news sources hundreds of people were evacuated from the shopping centre after the incident after being trapped inside with many stores being locked during the incident to protect shoppers.
After numerous stabbings by the perpetrator one witness said said they saw a woman lying on the ground and took shelter in a jewellery store.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to ABC, the police officer shot the attacker.
“If she did not shoot him, he would have kept going, he was on the rampage,” said the main, who did not give his name. “She went over and was giving him CPR. He had a nice big blade on him. He looked like he was on a killing spree.”
Several posts on social media Facebook and Instagram showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.
The NSW Police reported that five of the victims died at the scene, while the sixth person passed away later in the hospital due to their injuries.
In total Nine people, including a small child, were stabbed by a man in the centre and some are in a critical condition.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said authorities believe the man acted alone and there is no ongoing threat.
Assistant Commissioner Cooke said he did not have further information about the man’s identity.
He said there was no indication of the offender’s motive but police had not ruled anything out.
They said the man was in the shopping centre around 3pm before leaving and then returned around 20 minutes later with a knife.
A female police inspector, who was nearby, was directed towards the man by witnesses, and she shot him dead after the offender confronted her.
“She confronted the offender, who had moved by this stage to level five, as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him. He turned to face her, raised a knife,” Assistant Commissioner Cooke said. “She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.”
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a statement thanking first responders ,offering condolences to the victims families and offered full support to the NSW Government.
Whilst some Sydney Jewish Groups supportive of Israel are suggesting that this knife attack is connected to the political and war events events in Palestine and the Middle East,.. at this stage there has been no identification of the lone attacker nor are his motives known.
