TRANSCRIPT
Sydney residents are still reeling after an attack on one of the city's busiest shopping centres on Saturday [[April 13]] afternoon, which left six people dead, and several others injured.
A man entered Westfield Bondi Junction at around 3.30pm and began stabbing unsuspecting shoppers using a knife, creating scenes of chaos.
New South Wales Police arrived at the scene and the man was eventually shot dead by a local police officer, after repeated calls for him to stand down.
Westfield Bondi employee and eyewitness Ayush Singh was working in a cafe when the attack took place.
"I saw all the people running and I didn't know what was happening. I thought it was some people playing a prank or something and after some time I saw a guy with a knife running from the footpath to the cafe where I work, Globar. And he just went pass and I was trying to look but there was a wall and I couldn't see and I just heard gunshots and I saw the guy lying down and the police officer was trying to save him after that."
New South Wales Police say the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident.
Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke has told media the 40-year-old assailant was known to police and has been identified as Queensland man Joel Cauchi.
He says an investigation into the incident has been launched and the shopping centre will remain closed for the day as forensic examinations continue.
"The processing of that crime scene will continue very clearly. This was a very broad incident. There's a lot of footage already out in the media depicting some of what has occurred. So people would understand, this is a large crime scene. We need to deal with each and every aspect of that crime scene in absolutely minute detail to make sure we get that right. We will do things as quickly as is absolutely practicable, but it will take some time."
Of the six people killed - five were women and one male.
The female victims ranged in age from 20 to 55 years old, while the man was aged in his 30s.
One of the victims, 38-year-old mother Ash Good died while trying to save her baby who had also been stabbed.
The nine-month-old infant was taken to hospital where she underwent surgery overnight and is in a serious but stable condition.
Assistant Commissioner Cooke says some of the victims were from overseas and had no relatives in Australia.
"We are working through the process now of speaking with the families and supporting the families of those victims. Two of whom, it would appear, have no family in Australia, so we are working through, and with agencies overseas, to attempt to reach out to the families of those victims."
Several others suffering from severe injuries have been transferred to hospitals across New South Wales and are receiving treatment.
Speaking to the ABC, New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park says others checked in voluntarily during the night.
"What we do know is there was around nine patients transferred to many hospitals yesterday. Another three went into hospital overnight on their own esteem. In relation to the nine-month-old baby, last night I attended the Children's Hospital at Randwick. I spoke firsthand with those frontline nurses and clinicians who treated that child. She had surgery overnight and is currently in a critical condition and is in ICU. Now we certainly are hoping that she gets through this but there is a long way to go."
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has hailed the bravery of all those whose efforts prevented more casualties.
"I know many people, because of the number of those that have been killed, may take cold comfort from this fact, but nonetheless it is a fact. And that is that the best in this state confronted one of the worst acts we've ever seen. And we are very very grateful for the men and women that stood up in Bondi Junction in the last day."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the events that unfolded at Sydney's eastern suburbs as beyond comprehension.
He says support needs to be provided for those who witnessed the incident.
"These events were witnessed by thousands of people who were there shopping. This is a shopping centre that is very familiar to Sydney-siders. It is very large indeed. And for people who were forced to be locked in shops, people who ran from danger, people who confronted that danger, many of them should ensure that if they need that assistance to talk those issues through to deal with this dreadful experience, then they should reach out and that support will be there."
The Prime Minister says he received words of support from global leaders overnight, who condemned the violent act.
Buckingham Palace released a statement in which King Charles III and his wife Camilla expressed their horror at the stabbing incident.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U-S President Joe Biden and the Pope also sent messages of support towards the families that had been affected by the attack.
