Six dead and nine-month-old baby among injured in shopping centre stabbing
Six people have died and the knifeman was shot dead after he attacked inside a shopping centre.
Sixth victim has died in hospital and the knifeman was shot dead after he attacked multiple people inside a shopping centre in Sydney.
Death toll of the Sydney attack has increased to seven, including the attacker, police confirmed.
A baby, aged nine months, is among the stabbing victims and has undergone surgery.
One knifeman was shot dead inside the shopping centre by a lone senior police officer after he went on a deadly rampage.
The suspect is believed to be a 40-year-old man who acted alone, police said.
He attacked at the busy Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre shortly after 3pm on Saturday.
He stabbed multiple people, with five victims confirmed dead at the scene.
Other victims were rushed into hospitals across Sydney, many in critical and serious condition including the baby.
Sixth victim, a woman, has now sadly died in hospital after being stabbed, NSW police commissioner Karen Webb confirmed.
Four women and one man died at the shopping centre of stab wounds.
Seven others are believed to be in a critical condition.
He acted alone and no clear motive has been confirmed, police said.
Assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke was asked if police were ruling terrorism out.
He said: ‘We’re not ruling anything out.’
Emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre at about 3.30pm on Saturday.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the busy complex located less than two miles west of Bondi Beach.
But many others were left hiding inside after armed police initially looked for a second attacker.
Mr Cooke said: ‘A male walked inside the Bondi Junction.
‘As he moved through the centre he engaged with about nine people. It is clear he stabbed them with a blade he was carrying.’
A lone female officer was nearby and she confronted the attacker on level 5 of the sprawling shopping complex.
Mr Cooke described how the assailant was taken down: ‘As she continued to walk behind him, he turned and raised the blade. She discharged the firearm and he is deceased.’
She gave the attacker CPR until the paramedics arrived.
The identity of the attacker is not yet known, the police said.
Shocking images showed one victim laying on the floor in a pool of blood.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the police officer who took down the attacker alone was a ‘hero’, adding that she ‘saved lives.’
Jason, a shopper who was evacuated from the Bondi Junction, told 9 News he saw the alleged attacker carrying a ‘nice big blade’.
He said: ‘Everyone started running toward the end of the building.’
Two witnesses told Reuters they heard gunshots.
One of the witnesses said they saw a woman lying on the ground before sheltering in a jewellery store.
Other witnesses reported an infant has been stabbed, according to 10 News First.
Two eyewitnesses told local news outside the shopping centre they helped a mum and a baby who had been stabbed inside, saying the mum was ‘bleeding heavily’ despite their efforts to stop the bleeding.
An investigation is continuing on the scene but there is no ‘continuing threat’, police said.
Mr Albanese praised the emergency workers, doctors, nurses and ‘everyday Australians’ who helped the victims after the ‘horrific act of violence.’
The PM expressed his ‘deepest condolences and sympathies’ to families of victims and anyone affected.
He also said the reaction of shoppers who rushed to help others highlighted ‘humanity and heroism of our fellow Australians.’
He added: ‘That’s what we are, brave and strong together.’
‘To every Australian affected by this – every Australian is with you.’
Penny Sharpe, acting premier of the state of New South Wales, said in a statement: ‘I am shocked at reports of multiple casualties at Bondi Junction late this afternoon.
‘My thoughts and those of the NSW government are with the victims, their families and first responders at this time, as well as those who may have witnessed these horrific events.
‘I am receiving regular updates from NSW police and emergency services, as well as from the premier’s department.
‘I will be receiving a formal briefing shortly.’
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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