Six people were tragically killed in a horrific attack at a bustling shopping center in Sydney’s Bondi Junction on Saturday. The attacker, armed with a knife, entered the mall during peak shopping hours and began stabbing multiple shoppers. The chaotic scene unfolded as shoppers ran for safety and emergency services rushed to the site.
According to reports, the attacker was ultimately shot dead by the police. New South Wales police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke confirmed the death toll, stating, “There are six people who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender.”
Among the injured were eight individuals, including a mother and her baby who sustained stab wounds. They were rushed to hospitals in Sydney, and their conditions have not yet been disclosed.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, calling the shopping center attack “beyond words or understanding.” The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities have urged the public to avoid the area due to the high presence of ambulances and police vehicles.
The mall remains on lockdown as heavily armed tactical response teams comb through the premises. Social media posts captured the chaotic scene as crowds fled the mall, and security camera footage showed the assailant brandishing a large knife. The community is in shock as they come to terms with this senseless act of violence.