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Rabat – A stragic stabbing attack in Bondi Junction, a suburb in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, has claimed the lives of six people and left several others injured on Saturday afternoon.
According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald, the assailant, who was shot dead by a female police inspector at the scene, was identified as a 40-year-old man known to law enforcement.
Armed with a knife, he entered the Bondi Junction Westfield around 3:20 pm local time before he embarked on a stabbing inside the Westfield shopping center.
He randomly targeted shoppers, resulting in the deaths of five individuals on-site, with a sixth victim succumbing to injuries later in the hospital. The victims include five women and a man.
Meanwhile, eight people were taken to different hospitals to treat their injuries. A nine-month-old baby, whose mother was among those killed, was also among the injured.
The investigation into the motive behind the attack continues, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging the public to refrain from speculation.
“We should allow the investigators to go about ther work … The motive at this stage is unknown,” he said.
Police believe the assailant acted alone and that he did not hold any terrorist beliefs.
“If he is the person that we believe, then we don’t have fears of that person holding an ideation. In other words, it’s not a terrorism incident,” Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of grief and solidarity from the community, with condolences pouring in for the victims and their families. Scentre Group, the owner and manager of the Westfield shopping center, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended gratitude to emergency responders for their swift action.
Both Webb and Minister Albanese commended the female police officer who shot the assailant, as well as shopkeepers who helped keep people safe.
“The police officer that attended is enormously courageous, as were other police officers that have attended that area,” Webb said.
Meanwhile, Albanese described the police officer as a “hero,” adding: “There’s no doubt that she saved lives through her actions.”
