LAST UPDATE | 13 Apr
SIX PEOPLE ARE dead following stabbings at a shopping centre near Australia’s Bondi beach.
Several others have been injured, including a nine month-old baby.
Their attacker was shot dead by a police woman responding to the incident and several other people have been brought to hospital with serious injuries.
Five women and a man were killed in the stabbing, New South Wales Police said.
Police said four women and a man died in the shopping centre. Since then, another woman passed away in hospital.
It brings the death toll to six.
A nine-month-old infant has undergone surgery and “about eight” people, including the child, are in hospitals around Sydney receiving treatment for “different injuries” as a result of the attack.
It occurred at the sprawling Westfield Bondi Junction mall complex, near Bondi Beach, which was packed with afternoon shoppers.
Dozens of police vehicles remain at the scene of the shopping centre.
In a press briefing held in the past hour, police said that from preliminary inquiries, it appears the offender “acted alone” and that “there is no continuing threat”.
The motive of the attacker was not immediately clear.
It’s believed he was a 40-year-old man but no formal identification has been made.
“There’s nothing that we’re aware of that would indicate any motive or any ideology,” Assistant Commissioner for New South Wales police Anthony Cooke said in the briefing, which was streamed online. Asked by a local reporter whether “terrorism” was a possible motive, Cooke said: “We’re not ruling anything out.”
Cooke added: “I do not have information in relation to the offender – I do not know, at this stage, who he is, you would understand this is quite raw.”
He outlined how a lone officer who responded had tracked the assailant through the shopping centre.
“This all happened very, very quickly – the officer that was in the vicinity attended on her own, was guided to the location of the offender by people who were in the centre.
“She took the actions that she did saving a range of people’s lives; (she was) an inspector, a senior police officer – she was on her own. She engaged immediately on her arrival to the scene.
“I don’t have any indication of any motivation coming from the scene at all.”
Shortly before 4pm local time, emergency services were called to the area following reports of multiple people stabbed.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed “on the devastating events” at Bondi Junction.
“Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones,” he said.
“Our hearts go out to those injured and we offer our thanks to those caring for them as well as our brave police and first responders.”
I have been briefed by the AFP on the devastating events at Bondi Junction.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 13, 2024
Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones.
Taoiseach Simon Harris is among the world leaders sympathising following the attack.
He said he it was a horrifying incident.
I am horrified by the attack in Sydney on innocent people, including children. I will reach out to PM @AlboMP personally but for now the thoughts and prayers of everyone in Ireland are with our Australian friends
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD)
Britain’s King Charles said he and his wife Camilla were “utterly shocked and horrified” by the stabbing.
Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” by the attack and sent his “spiritual solidarity to all those affected” in a message addressed to the archbishop of Sydney.
Earlier, Local New South Wales police said on social media that the area has been “locked down amid reports of multiple stabbings” in the shopping centre.
It said a “critical incident” has commenced following the shooting of a male at Bondi Junction and appealed for members of the public to “avoid any unnecessary travel” to the area.
New South Wales Ambulance told AFP that one man had been shot dead by police. He is believed to be an attacker.
A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of male at Bondi Junction.
Just before 4pm (Saturday 13 April 2024), emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed.People are urged to avoid the area.Inquiries…— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice)
UPDATE FROM POLICE: A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of male at Bondi Junction. Just before 4pm today, emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed. People are urged to avoid the area.
— Waverley Council (@WaverleyCouncil) April 13, 2024
Eyewitnesses said there was panic at the scene, with shoppers running to safety and police trying to secure the area.
Several people took shelter in a supermarket, where they remained for about an hour.
Security camera footage broadcast by local media showed a man running around the shopping centre with a large knife and injured people lying on the floor.
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