On April 13, at about 3:30 p.m., authorities were alerted to a violent incident at Westfield Bondi Junction, where a man armed with a knife was attacking people. This took place in Sydney, Australia.
The man, aged 40, went on to kill five women and one man in the shopping center. Reports indicate that he was already known to the police. He specifically targeted a mother and her baby initially, causing panic and chaos for about 15 minutes until a female police officer intervened and shot him, ending the rampage.
In total, six people lost their lives, with three others sustaining stab wounds during the attack. Among the injured were a mother and her baby, among others.
The assailant started his spree at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, a busy area in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The suspect was shot by a female police officer who was on patrol nearby and is being hailed as a hero for her actions. Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed that eight people, including a 9-month-old baby, were injured, with some undergoing surgery.
The police have stated that there is no ongoing threat and that the incident is not considered terrorism-related. They are still investigating the man’s motivation for the attack and have not released his identity yet.
Assistant Commissioner Cooke provided details of the incident, mentioning that the attacker engaged with about nine people in the shopping center, causing harm with the knife he was carrying. The police arrived promptly, and the officer confronted the attacker on level five of the center, where she shot him after he raised his knife towards her.
Six people died in the attack, and the police are continuing their investigations while expressing sympathy for the victims and their families.
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