A suspect launched a violent attack at a bustling shopping mall in Sydney, resulting in the deaths of six individuals before being fatally shot by police on Saturday. The incident occurred at Westfield Bondi Junction near Bondi Beach, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of people.
According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald, seven others sustained injuries during the attack, which unfolded around 3:40 pm local time in the city's eastern suburbs. Emergency services swiftly responded to reports of multiple stabbings at the mall shortly before 4 pm.
Among the victims were a mother and her nine-month-old child, who were both stabbed. Fortunately, two men intervened, preventing further harm to the pair and using clothing from a nearby store to staunch the infant's bleeding. Tragically, the mother later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
Eyewitnesses recounted hearing shots fired during the chaos, with reports of a gunman on the premises. The mall was swiftly evacuated, and a police operation ensued as authorities worked to secure the area and tend to the injured.
Social media platforms were inundated with posts depicting the panicked evacuation scenes and the rapid response of law enforcement and emergency services.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was briefed on the situation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Canberra, expressing condolences for the victims and gratitude for the responders. Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror, with one individual recounting how the attacker, clad in a hoodie and wielding a knife, pursued fleeing individuals throughout the mall.
Another witness described the harrowing moment when the assailant brandished a knife and fired shots inside a supermarket, prompting her to seek refuge and secure herself.
