Six Dead in Broad Daylight Stabbing Rampage at Sydney Shopping Center, Australia (Comprehensive)

Suspect Also Dies After Being Shot by Police

Six shoppers lost their lives in a daytime stabbing rampage at a shopping center in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia.

Local police have responded to a stabbing incident that occurred in broad daylight at a suburban shopping center in Sydney, Australia.
[Photo by Reuters]

According to CNN and other foreign media on the 13th, the incident occurred at the Westfield shopping center in Bondi Junction, an eastern suburb of Sydney. Anthony Cook, Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, said at a press conference that a man was at the shopping center and left around 3 p.m., then returned about 20 minutes later carrying a knife. The man wielded the knife at nine people on the 4th floor before moving to the 5th floor, where he was shot and killed by police officers who responded to the report.

Deputy Commissioner Cook explained, "The responding officer followed the suspect to arrest him, but when the suspect turned and threatened the officer with the knife, the officer fired his weapon." Police confirmed that six shoppers died in the stabbing attack and the suspect also died. Initially, eight people, including children, were taken to nearby hospitals, but the current condition of the remaining injured is unknown.

Deputy Commissioner Cook said the incident appears to be a lone act and there is no further threat. He added that there is currently no information on the suspect’s identity or clues regarding the motive.

He did not rule out the possibility of terrorism and said a detailed investigation has just begun. Local media reported that after the suspect began the attack, hundreds of shoppers fled in confusion as no alarm sounded. Videos posted on local social media showed many ambulances and police vehicles arriving at the scene, with crowds gathered around the shopping center.

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, posted a message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) expressing condolences to the families of the victims.