April 13, 2024 12:03 PM ET
Six people killed in Sydney shopping mall stabbing.Click here for the latest information
Emergency services are seen outside the scene of a stabbing in Sydney on Saturday, April 13.
Steven Safoir/AAP Images/AP
A man stabbed and killed six people and injured several others at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia on Saturday afternoon local time, making it one of the country's worst mass murders in recent years. The suspect was shot and killed.
Witnesses said they felt “massive confusion” as they fled the attack, with many forced to hide in shops. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was “beyond words and comprehension” but there were also flashes of heroism amid “shocking violence”.
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6 people dead: NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said four women and a man died at the mall, and a fifth woman later died in hospital. Mr Webb added that a further eight people were being treated for injuries in Sydney hospitals.
Baby among the injured: Webb said a 9-month-old infant was identified as being among the injured and was undergoing surgery. Australian media reported that the baby's mother had died, but Mr Webb could not confirm the report.
Suspect shot: The police officer shot and killed the perpetrator at the scene. Police believe the suspect, a 40-year-old man, acted alone, but they have not released further information on his identity. Early indications suggest the attack was not terrorism-related.
“Hero” police officer: The officer who shot and killed the suspect has been hailed as a “hero” and Mr Albanese said: “There is no question that her actions saved lives.” Police said her officer was near her when the riot broke out and shot her when her attacker brandished a knife at her.
People reacted outside the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center on Saturday.
Lisa Marie Williams/Getty Images
An eyewitness describes the scene as follows. Witnesses said there was panic and “massive chaos” as fleeing shoppers fell over each other and hid inside the store. One woman, Crystal Wang, told CNN that she and other shoppers hid in the clothing store for more than an hour. Another man told Australian state broadcaster ABC that the gunman was stabbing people “indiscriminately”.
Rare attacks: The attack shocked Australia, a country where mass casualties are rare. The deadliest mass shooting in history occurred in April 1996 in Port Arthur, Tasmania, when 35 people were killed and became known as the Port Arthur Massacre. Most recently, in 2019, a mass shooting in the northern city of Darwin left at least four people dead and one injured.