‘Obvious’ Bondi attacker targeted women: police
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 terrifying rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday.
A number of the survivors were discharged from hospital yesterday while others remained under monitoring, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
Investigations were continuing and a lengthy coronial inquiry would be conducted into the violent and horrific crime but the mentally ill attacker’s motive may 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,” Minns said. “It’s been a terrible day, a terrible weekend for Sydney and NSW and there’s millions of people that are grieving at the moment.”
Extra funding and resources will 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 said.
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.
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. Each and every victim here is mourned.”
Albanese joined Minns on Sunday to lay flowers at the scene. Floral tributes continued to grow as the centre was handed back to its owners, while flags were at half-mast around Sydney ahead of the Opera House sails being lit with a black ribbon last night.
Among the victims was 38-year-old osteopath Ashlee Good, whose 9-monthold daughter was in a stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of multi-millionaire businessman John Singleton, 47-year-old architect Jade Young, 30-year-old security guard Faraz Tahir and 55-year-old artist and designer Pikria Darchia were also killed in the attack.
A 27-year-old Chinese national, Yixuan Cheng, was identified as the sixth person killed by media outlets yesterday.
Cauchi’s estranged family said they were devastated by his actions. – AAP