Six people have been killed and many more have been injured after a horrific incident went down in the Bondi Junction Westfield. A female inspector fatally shot the attacker at the scene.
At 4pm Saturday at Bondi Junction Westfield, scenes of horror unfolded as a man wielding a knife went on a rampage, stabbing indiscriminately.
Eight people have been taken to hospital, including a nine-month-old baby that received stab wounds. Police are confident the offender acted alone and have declared the threat over now that he has been killed.
Among the six confirmed deceased victims is the mother of the baby that was stabbed. She passed in hospital.
“As he moved to the centre he engaged with about nine people and it is clear that during the engagement he caused harm to those people, we believe, by stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying,” confirmed NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke.
When asked about the motivations behind the attack, police could not confirm anything about motive or ideology.
Little is currently known about the individual. Police confirmed they know him to be in his 40s, and will continue the investigation of him over the upcoming days.
In a statement with the Prime Minister, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed that it is now working with NSW Police to investigate the mass casualty event.
Cooke shared the account of how the female inspector took out the assailant.
“She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five. As she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with them, he turned, faced her, raised an eye, she discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased,” he recounted.
Statement from the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a press conference on the devastating events.
“This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeted at innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping,” said Albanese.
“The first thoughts of all Australians are with the victims of these terrible acts and their loved ones. Our nation offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those who are grieving for someone they have lost and we send our strength to those who have been injured.”
Albanese shared that his heart, and all Australians’, goes out to those impacted by the shocking attack.
“Bondi Junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow Australians, our brave police, our first responders and of course, everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment. And some of the footage is quite extraordinary.”
Albanese and the head of the AFP have both confirmed that speculation about the motives of the offender would not be helpful for the ongoing investigation.
I have been briefed by the AFP on the devastating events at Bondi Junction.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 13, 2024
Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones.
Footage of Bondi Junction attack shared online
Witnesses inside the Bondi Junction Westfield were quick to record and upload footage of their perspective of the critical event, including footage of the assailant as he was held up on an escalator by a shopper wielding a bollard.
🚨Breaking News🚨
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) April 13, 2024
A man has gone on the rampage at Western Bondi Shopping Mall in Sydney.
There are reports of at least four dead. He is believed to have been shot dead by two police women.
A brave man confronts the murderer. pic.twitter.com/OQm235mbjz
WATCH | Man steps between his family and an armed terrorist to defend: deters bloody assailant in Bondi Junction Mall, Sydney Australia. The assailant was shot by a female officer following a killing spree leaving an unknown number dead and wounded. The attack is being… pic.twitter.com/WcIgqTVAKV
— dan linnaeus (@DanLinnaeus) April 13, 2024
Incident at Bondi Junction Westfield.
— Ricardo Gonçalves (@BUSINESSricardo) April 13, 2024
Heard what sounded like gun shots when inside the centre and all ran out.
People running along top level of bridge pic.twitter.com/xoBUUt9hbk
Police helicopter now at Westfield Bondi Junction after incident pic.twitter.com/cPWTgz0pVQ
— Ricardo Gonçalves (@BUSINESSricardo) April 13, 2024
The ABC also spoke to witnesses who said they heard gunshots being fired.
“I looked up and bolted,” one onlooker told a Sydney Morning Herald reporter.
The centre has been temporarily shut down and emergency services are at the scene.
Witness accounts
An eyewitness, who works in the Bondi Junction food court in the north building, told PEDESTRIAN.TV reporter Alex Bruce-Smith he was first alerted to the commotion when dozens of people came running towards the food court.
He said a female police officer was running the other way.
According to this eyewitness, the suspect was running across the footbridge towards the south building when he stopped and turned towards the officer, who fired at least one shot, stopping the suspect.
Bruce-Smith described the scene on the ground shortly after the evacuation.
“There’s easily 200 people outside,” she said.
“I can see at least six ambulances.
“People are still inside the centre. A cop just asked us if any of us have relatives inside.”
Initial statement from police
At 4:36pm, NSW Police issued a statement:
“A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of male at Bondi Junction,” it began.
“Just before 4pm (Saturday 13 April 2024), emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed.
“Inquiries are continuing in relation to the incident and there are no further details.”
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area.
The news comes just one day after a 36-year-old woman was stabbed in the head at the Eastern Sydney beach in a separate incident on Friday.
She was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
More to come.
Image via PEDESTRIAN.TV.