The Northern Express Herald

Sydney mall attack: What we know so far about Bondi incident

Daniel McCulloch

People were led out from the Westfield Shopping Centre where multiple people were stabbed in Sydney on Saturday. Photo / AP

Seven people are dead - including an attacker shot dead by a policewoman - and 12 more are in hospital with injuries after a mass stabbing at a busy Sydney shopping centre yesterday afternoon. Here is what we know so far about the incident.

  • Police have identified the attacker as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland. He moved to Sydney last month.
  • NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said the attacker was known to Queensland police and believed to be from the Brisbane area.
  • Cooke said there was “nothing significant” about Cauchi’s prior offending.
  • Five women and one man died in the attack.
  • There are 12 people in hospitals across Sydney with injuries after the knife attack.
  • The mother of a 9-month-old baby injured in the attack who died in hospital from her wounds has been named. She was Ash Good, aged 38.
  • The attacker, Cauchi, was shot dead by police.
  • The incident took place inside a shopping centre at Bondi Junction soon after 3pm on Saturday, local time.
  • The man engaged nine people, stabbing them with a knife.
  • Police said the 40-year-old acted alone and there was no ongoing threat to the community.
The knifeman was wearing an old Kangaroos rugby league jersey.
The knifeman was wearing an old Kangaroos rugby league jersey.
  • Inspector Amy Scott was on the scene and shot the attacker after he refused to drop his weapon.
  • The inspector’s immediate actions were believed to have saved many lives.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Scott’s brave actions and called her a “hero”.
  • The area was sealed and a crime scene declared.
  • Police said their investigation would be lengthy and precise.
  • They praised the bravery of bystanders who rushed to the aid of stab victims.
  • Witnesses described their horror and fear as the stabbing attack unfolded.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the horrific act of violence was beyond words or understanding.
A policewoman on her own ended a knifeman’s reign of terror inside a packed Westfield at Sydney’s Bondi Junction, shooting him dead after he raised his knife at her. Photo / News.com.au
A policewoman on her own ended a knifeman’s reign of terror inside a packed Westfield at Sydney’s Bondi Junction, shooting him dead after he raised his knife at her. Photo / News.com.au
  • Australian Federal Police members were deployed to the crime scene to assist NSW police.
  • AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said it was too early to determine a motive and it would be unhelpful to speculate.

Additional reporting by the NZ Herald.

One brave person was shown using an object - believed to be a bollard - to confront the knife-wielding attacker on an escalator inside the mall. Photo from video still, Trilli MCap
One brave person was shown using an object - believed to be a bollard - to confront the knife-wielding attacker on an escalator inside the mall. Photo from video still, Trilli MCap
People were led out from the Westfield Shopping Centre after the attack. Photo / AP
People were led out from the Westfield Shopping Centre after the attack. Photo / AP