‘Obvious’ Sydney attacker targeted women
SYDNEY: Investigators are combing through the background of a man who killed six people in a mass stabbing at a Sydney shopping centre, in an attempt to work out why he targeted women.
Five women and one man were killed while 12 others — including a baby — were seriously wounded before Queensland man Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by police during the rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns yesterday told Sky News investigations were continuing and a lengthy coronial inquiry would be conducted but the mentally ill attacker’s motive might never be conclusively known.
‘‘The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of women in NSW hospitals and women were targeted by this attacker.’’
Extra funding and resources would be given to the coroner to conduct an inquiry into the police operation, mental health services and the attacker’s interactions with authorities in NSW and Queensland.
‘‘We’re determined to get as much information as we possibly can,’’ Minns told Seven’s Sunrise.
NSW police commissioner Karen Webb said videos of the attack unfolding ‘‘speak for themselves’’ and a gendered motive was a clear line of inquiry for investigators.
‘‘It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to detectives, that seems to be an area of interest, that the offender had focused on women and avoided the men,’’ she said.
‘‘We don’t know what was operating in the mind of the offender and that’s why it’s important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him . . . so we can get some insight into what he might have been thinking.’’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio he had spoken to the families of several of those attacked.
‘‘The gender breakdown is of course, concerning,’’ he said.
‘‘Each and every victim here is mourned . . . for their loved ones, our heart goes out to them.’’
Albanese joined Minns on Sunday to lay flowers at the scene. Floral tributes continue to grow as the centre is handed back to its owners, while flags are at half mast in Sydney and the Opera House sails was to be lit with a black ribbon last night.
Among the victims was 38yearold osteopath Ashlee Good, whose 9monthold daughter was in a stable condition after undergoing surgery for injuries she suffered in the attack.
Dawn Singleton, the 25yearold daughter of multimillionaire businessman John Singleton, 47yearold architect Jade Young, 30yearold security guard Faraz Tahir and 55yearold artist and designer Pikria Darchia were also killed in the attack.
A 27yearold Chinese national, Yixuan Cheng, was identified later yesterday as the sixth person killed.
Cauchi’s estranged family said they were devastated.
‘‘Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened,’’ they said in a statement.
‘‘He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.’’
The family said they had no issue with a police officer, Inspector Amy Scott, shooting their son, saying she was only doing her job. — AAP