Six people were killed in a knife attack at a shopping center in Australia's Sydney on Saturday and the attacker was shot dead by police, reported Xinhua, quoting police.
It has been confirmed the man fatally stabbed six people in the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center before he was shot, New South Wales (NSW) Police said in a media advisory.
The attacker had been in the shopping center, left, and returned with a knife for his stabbing spree, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke told a press conference earlier.
"As he moved to the center, he engaged with about nine people, and it's clear that during that engagement he caused harm to those people. We believe by stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying," he said.
Cooke said the attacker was shot dead by a nearby police officer who was on her own.
"She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five (of the mall) as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him," Cooke said. "He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased."
The assistant commissioner said preliminary investigations suggest the man acted alone and that no motive is clear.
Asked by a reporter if police were ruling out terrorism, Cooke said, "We're not ruling anything out."
In a media conference Saturday evening, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was "a horrific act of violence" and offered his condolences.
"This was a horrific act of violence indiscriminately targeted at innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday, doing their shopping," Albanese said.
"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," he said.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
What a tragic incident. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. It’s heartbreaking to hear about such violence in a shopping mall, of all places. Let’s hope for swift justice and answers to why this happened.
Did authorities manage to identify the motive behind this tragic incident in Sydney shopping mall?
Authorities have not yet identified a clear motive behind the tragic incident at the Sydney shopping mall. Investigations are ongoing to understand the reasons behind the attacker’s actions.
Was the attacker known to the police before this incident?
It’s unclear at this stage whether the attacker had any prior interactions with law enforcement before the tragic incident.
It’s truly devastating to hear about such a tragic incident. My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
I can’t believe such a tragic event happened in Sydney. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. It’s terrifying that something like this could occur in a place where people are just going about their day.
“This is absolutely devastating news. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. It’s truly tragic that such violence could happen in a place where people should feel safe and secure.”
It’s truly devastating to hear about such a tragic incident. My thoughts go out to the families of the victims. It’s a reminder of the unpredictable nature of violence in our society, and the importance of staying vigilant and united in the face of such senseless acts.
Such a tragic event. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. It’s terrifying to think that such senseless violence can happen in a busy shopping center. Let’s hope for a thorough investigation to understand the motive behind this attack and prevent such tragedies in the future.
Is there any information on the background of the attacker? Was there any indication of a possible motive behind this tragic incident?
Hi JennaSmith92, from the preliminary investigations, it seems that the attacker acted alone and no clear motive has been established yet. The authorities are not ruling out any possibilities at this stage. It’s a truly tragic and senseless act that has shocked the community.
It’s devastating to hear about the tragic events at the Sydney mall. My heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families. Let’s pray for peace and unity during these difficult times.
Do we have any updates on the identity of the attacker or any possible motive behind this tragic incident at the Sydney Mall?