Six people were killed and several others injured — including a nine-month-old baby — when a knife-wielding attacker rampaged through a busy Sydney shopping centre on Saturday. Australian police said multiple people were stabbed by the unidentified assailant, who was tracked down and shot dead by a policewoman who is being hailed as a national hero.
The incident occurred at the sprawling Westfield Bondi Junction mall complex, which was packed with thousands of Saturday afternoon shoppers. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said five women and one man had died. A baby was undergoing emergency surgery.
Police said the attacker is believed to be a 40-year-old man who was known to law enforcement, but he has not yet been formally identified. Webb played down suggestions that the attack could have been an act of terrorism and said it is believed the attacker acted alone.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic, with shoppers scrambling to safety and police trying to secure the area. Many people took shelter in shops, trying to protect themselves, their families, and frightened strangers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the bravery of strangers who helped each other and the woman police inspector who rushed headlong toward danger. “She is certainly a hero. There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action,” Albanese said.
As night fell, dozens of heavily armed police and ambulances were still outside the shopping complex, with stretchers ready to take people to nearby hospitals. The mall has been locked down, and police have urged people to avoid the area. Such attacks are virtually unheard of in Australia, which has relatively low rates of violent crime.