Suspect killed after stabbing six to death
Policewoman hailed a hero after shooting dead attacker in shopping centre
A female police inspector who shot dead a knife attacker who killed six people and injured several others in a Sydney shopping centre has been hailed a hero who saved lives.
The New South Wales Police inspector was one of dozens who responded to a stabbing spree at around 3.30pm yesterday in the Westfield Bondi Junction centre.
But she appeared to be on her own as she fired after being confronted by the knifeman who lunged at her, police said.
The unnamed officer then tried to perform CPR on him until paramedics arrived, but he could not be revived.
Images on social media show her crouched over the body of the attacker as blood pools around his head, while another clip shows her trying to resuscitate a victim lying motionless inside the shopping centre. A shopper, who was not named, described the officer’s actions to Australia’s ABC News: “He just started floating towards us and all I heard was ‘put it down’ and then she shot him.
“But we were in no doubt, if she didn’t shoot him, he would have kept going. He was on the rampage.
“Then she walked over and gave him CPR. He had a big blade on him, she chucked the knife away. He looked like he was on a killing spree.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “The bravery of the police officer … she entered the proceedings that were taking place, obviously very dangerous, by herself. She is certainly a hero.
“There is no doubt she saved lives through her action and it is a reminder that those people who wear uniform are people who rush to danger, not away from it, and I give thanks to every one of them for the actions they have taken up to now and the actions that they will take over the next coming days, which will be a difficult period as well.”
Five of the six victims killed were women, while eight people, including a nine-month-old baby, were taken to hospital with stab wounds, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.
She said officers believed they had identified the attacker as a 40-year-old man but were waiting to officially confirm his identity, the BBC reported.
Footage and photos circulated on social media showing the inside of the shopping centre during the attack, including one dramatic clip showing a man on an escalator brandishing a bollard at the attacker who is holding a large knife.
Other videos show people running through the shopping centre as an alarm rings and later footage shows police cars lining the road outside.
Ayush Singh, 25, was working in a cafe in the mall when he saw the attack and then heard gunshots as police responded. “I saw the guy with the knife running and chasing people. As he walked just past beside me I heard two or three gunshots and the guy was neutralised.
“People around me were terrified. There were some old ladies I helped to get them inside a safe place inside the cafe,” he said.
There were no indicators that suggested the incident was terror-related, police said. They added the offender acted alone.
“I am content there is no continuing threat,” said Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke.
News website news.com.au reported witnesses claiming a man began stabbing shoppers at random.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the shopping centre, media said.
“Even 20 minutes after people were rushed out of the mall, I saw SWAT teams of people sweeping the surrounding streets,” one witness said.