Man shot dead after fatal knife attack at Sydney shopping centre
Emergency services were called to the Westfield Bondi Junction Centre just before 4pm local time
Last updated 13th Apr 2024
Six people have died and a baby is among a number of others injured following a knife attack at a shopping centre in Sydney, Austalia
The attacker, who is believed to have acted alone, was then shot dead by a female police officer who was the first on the scene.
Just before 4pm on Saturday afternoon, emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed.
New South Wales Police said they do not know of "any motive or ideology" at this stage.
Anthony Cooke, assistant commissioner of New South Wales Police, said: "A man walked into Westfield at Bondi Junction, he left the centre very shortly after and returned... as he moved through the centre he engaged with about nine people.
"It is clear that during that engagement he caused harm to those people we believe by stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying."
Mr Cooke said he had not seen anything like the incident at Sydney before and that "this is a very difficult circumstances", stating that the investigation will be "lengthy and precise".
Police have not identified the attacker but believe he acted alone.
Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, said he is is making "immediate arrangements" to return to Sydney following the shopping centre stabbings.
He said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: "I am horrified to hear about the events at Bondi Junction this afternoon.
"I am making immediate arrangements to return to Sydney.
"I want to thank NSW Police, emergency services and first responders and the community for their bravery in the face of this shocking incident."
A shopper at the centre near Australia's Bondi beach where several people were stabbed said the attacker was "on a killing spree".
The shopper, who was not named, told ABC News: "He just started floating towards us and all I heard was 'put it down' and then she shot him.
"But we were in no doubt, if she didn't shoot him, he would have kept going. He was on the rampage.
"Then she walked over and gave him CPR. He had a big blade on him - she chucked the knife away.
"He looked like he was on a killing spree."
Royal Family send their condolences
The King has said he and the Queen were "utterly shocked and horrified" by the "senseless attack" in Sydney and their "hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed".
In a personal social media post, the Prince and Princess of Wales said:
"We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney earlier today. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others. W & C"