Sydney knifeman had history of mental health issues
◆ Family of attacker sends a message of support ‘to the police officer who has killed their son and are expressing their concerns for her welfare’
The Sydney knife attacker who killed six people at a shopping centre had suffered mental healthissuessincehewasateenager, his family said.
Joel Cauchi, 40, from Queensland, had been known to police, particularly over the last five years,buthadnotbeenarrested orchargedbeforehecommitted the attack on Saturday.
Fourwomen,andamaninhis 30s who was a security guard at the shopping centre, died at the scene.
In a statement released through Queensland Police, the Cauchi family said: “We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday.
“Ourthoughtsandprayersare with the families and friends of thevictimsandthosestillundergoing treatment at this time.
“Joel's actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened.
“He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”
Cauchi was identified by New South Wales Police on Sunday after he was killed by a police officer during the attack at the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction in the east of Sydney.
The lone knifeman attacked shoppersonsaturdayafternoon andpolicesaidtheydonotthink the attack was motivated by terrorism.
His family added: “We are in contact with both the New South Wales Police Force and Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the police officer who shot our son as she wasonlydoingherjobtoprotect others, and we hope she is coping alright.”
Queensland Police assistant commissioner Roger Lowe told reporters in Brisbane that Cauchi, who he described as “itinerant”, had not been “prosecuted or arrested or charge for anyoffencewithinqueensland” and said the force was assisting policeinnewsouthwalesofficers with the investigations.
“He has been in contact with the police, primarily in the last four to five years would be the most contact we have had with him. During that contact we are aware that this individual has suffered from mental health,” said Mr Lowe.
Mr Lowe said the attacker’s family has co-operated with police and had sent a message to the New South Wales Police “with respect to support the police officer who has killed their son and are expressing their concerns for her welfare”.
Mr Lowe said the family contacted authorities when they saw footage of the attack on television.
New South Wales Police are investigating the man, who moved to Sydney a month before the attack, hiring a “very small” storage container in Sydney which police have “worked through”.
Tributes have been paid to Cauchi's victims, who included a mother who handed her baby over to strangers after being attacked.
Ashlee Good, 38, died in hospital from her wounds and her nine-month-old daughter Harriet, who was also injured in the attack, has undergone surgery.
A statement from Ms Good’s family said the child is “doing well”.
“Todaywearereelingfromthe terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautifulmother,daughter,sister,partner, friend, all-round outstandinghuman,andsomuchmore,” the statement said.
Itadded:“tothetwomenwho held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not – words cannotexpressourgratitude.”
Dawn Singleton, the 25-yearolddaughterofaustralianbusinessman John Singleton, was named as one of the victims by local media.
Two of the victims are from overseasandpoliceareattempting to contact their families.
Slain security guard Faraz Tahir was named and labelled “courageous” by the Australian Pakistani National Association.
And New South Wales Police confirmed a fourth victim was 47-year-old Jade Young, who worked as an architect in Sydney.
Thefifthvictimofthestabbing spree was identified as 55-yearold Pikria Darchia, New South Wales Police confirmed.
A further 11 people are receiving treatment in hospitals aroundsydneyforinjuries,with 12th person discharged from hospital on Sunday.
Australian Prime Minister
Mother who died trying to save baby a ‘beautiful human’
Anthony Albanese hailed the “extraordinary” bravery of people at the shopping centre during the attack.
“Weseethefootageofordinary Australians putting themselves in harm's way in order to help their fellow citizens,” he said. “Thatbraverywasquiteextraordinary that we saw yesterday, the best of Australians amidst this extraordinary tragedy.”
New South Wales premier Chris Minns called the attack “horrifying” and praised the efforts of the police inspector who shot Cauchi.
“Sydney has suffered a horrifying and violent attack on innocent people who are doing something everybody does on the weekend and that is going shopping with their family and
Clockwise from main: Members of the public prepare to lay floral tributes at Oxford Street Mall alongside Westfield Bondi Junction; 55-year-old Pikria Darchia, one of the six victims of the knife attack; Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall in Sydney remains closed theirfriends,”hesaid.“ofcourse, Inspector Amy Scott, who ran towardsdanger,showedprofessionalismandbraveryandwithout a shadow of a doubt, saved many, many lives in the last 24 hours.”
Mr Albanese and Mr Minns were among members of the public who laid flowers in Bondi to pay tribute to victims of the attack.
The King has said he and the Queen were “utterly shocked and horrified” by the “senseless attack” in Sydney and their “heartsgoouttothefamiliesand loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed”.
The shopping centre is being investigatedbystateandfederal police and remained closed to the public.
while attempting to save her baby during the Sydney stabbing attack have said she was a “beautiful human” and said the baby is “doing well”.
The attacker, who killed six people in the attack at Bondi Junction before being shot dead, was identified by police as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland. New South Wales Police do not think he was motivated by terrorism.
One of the victims, Ashlee Good, 38, was attempting to save her nine-month-old baby Harriet when she was killed. Police said the baby had undergone surgery following the attack.
A statement obtained by Australia’s national broadcastthefamilyofawomanwhodied er ABC from Ms Good’s family said: “Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human, and so much more.
“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl.”
The statement continued: “We can report that after hours of surgery, our baby is currently doing well. We are so grateful for the expert care and attentionofthemedicalteamat Sydney Children’s Hospital.
“The two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not – words cannot express our gratitude. We are strugglingtocometotermswith what has occurred.”
Eyewitnesses said Ms Good attemptedtosaveherbabyafter she was stabbed by passing the infant over to receive treatment. Sky News Australia anchor Laura Jayes described the mother of the baby as an“incredibleperson” who “had the world at her feet”.
Ms Jayes, who said she knew the mother, told Sky News: “So many family and friends wantedtobeatthehospitalthisafternoon, they had to take turns going in and out of the waiting room. Her baby went into surgery and her mum didn’t make it.”
Ms Jayes added: “She was one of those all-rounders. She was anincredibleathlete.shewasso smart,sobeautiful.shewasjust so excited to be a new mother, and all of that was ripped away in seconds here this afternoon.
“You want her baby to eventually know what an incredible mother her mum was.”
Awitnesstothestabbingssaid he helped the baby and mother after they were attacked.
Theunnamedmantold9news Sydney: “The baby got stabbed. Themumgotstabbedandcame over with a baby and threw it at me – I was holding the baby, it looked pretty bad. There was a lot of blood on the floor. I hope the baby is all right.”