Sydney stabbing attack: seven people dead, including suspect, as police do not believe attack was terror-related
Five of the six killed were womenBaby, aged nine months, among those hospitalisedNo indication of the man's motive, Albanese saysAustralia has strict gun and knife laws‘People around me were terrified,' says witness
Sydney stabbing attack: several people dead, including suspect, as police do not believe attack was terror-related
Amy Blaney and Tabitha Monahan
An attacker who fatally knifed six people in a Sydney mall was shot dead by police in the beachside suburb of Bondi on Saturday, police said, as hundreds fled the scene.
The assailant was shot by a police officer after he attacked shoppers in the busy Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre, a police statement said.
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 told a press conference.
Police at this stage do not believe the attack was terrorism-related, Webb said.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is "horrified" and will reach out to the Australian prime minister. "I am horrified by the attack in Sydney on innocent people, including children. "I will reach out to prime minster Anthony Albanese personally but for now the thoughts and prayers of everyone in Ireland are with our Australian friends," said Mr Harris on X.
People are led out from the Westfield Shopping Centre where multiple people were stabbed in Sydney, Saturday, April 13, 2024. T(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is not aware of any Irish Citizens hurt in the attack, but is ready to provide consular assistance.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the attack in the shopping centre in Sydney is a reminder of how the world is "more threatening and insecure".
"Horrendous and a terrible shock at the news," Mr Martin said on The Anton Savage Show on Newstalk.
"It's a reminder of the far more threatening and insecure world that we live in, when attacks of this kind can happen without any warning," he said.
There is a significant Irish community in Sydney and the Tánaiste said thoughts go immediately to those family and friends in the area.
"Of course all of us, we all know people who are in that district right now, family and friends and so forth. That's the immediate thought," Mr Martin said.
"So our thoughts are with those who are now bereaved and who have lost loved ones in this horrific attack," he added.
People are led out from the Westfield Shopping Centre where multiple people were stabbed (Rick Rycroft/AP)
Austialian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was no indication yet of the man's motive.
"This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeting innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping," he told a press conference.
"Tonight the first thoughts of all Australians are with the victims of these terrible acts."
Australia, a country of about 26 million people, has some of the world's toughest gun and knife laws, and attacks such as the one on Saturday are rare.
Emergency services were called to the mall, about three kilometres (1.9 miles) from Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach and popular with children and families, just before 4 p.m. (0600 GMT) after the stabbing reports, police said.
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," he told Reuters.
"People around me were terrified. There were some old ladies I helped to get them inside a safe place inside the cafe."
(PA Graphics)
Two other witnesses told Reuters they heard shots.
"Even 20 minutes after people were rushed out of the mall, I saw SWAT teams of people sweeping the surrounding streets," one witness said.
The other witness said they saw a woman lying on the ground and took shelter in a jewellery store.
An eyewitness described the police officer shooting the attacker to state broadcaster ABC.
"If she did not shoot him, he would have kept going, he was on the rampage," said the man, who did not give his name. "She went over and was giving him CPR. He had a nice big blade on him. He looked like he was on a killing spree."
Other witnesses said the man was wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey, and looked confused and appeared to attack randomly.
People are led out from the Westfield Shopping Centre (Rick Rycroft/AP)
"He was not looking for anyone personally," one witness said on TV. "He was just running around with his knife."
Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.
One video show a man confronting the attacker with a bollard from the top of an escalator. Others showed people trying to move the injured to safety and help others hide in shops.
"I just saw the footage of the guy with the bollard, I reckon he's the real hero here," Bondi Rescue lifeguard Andy Reid, who was also shopping at the mall, told the Sydney Morning Herald. Reid also attended to a woman who was bleeding on the fourth floor.
The mall will remain closed on Sunday while an investigation continues, police said.
Key updates
Minister James Browne has confirmed no Irish people have been hurt in the attack in Sydney. "A lot of Irish people would be in that area both as tourists and living and working in that area. The Department of Foreign Affairs' knowledge to date is that no Irish people have been caught up in the situation in terms of any physical injuries," said Mr Browne. "But it is a horrendous attack in Bondi Junction," he told RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin . While the department did not believe any Irish citizens were harmed in the attack, there were some who had been in the shopping centre and had witnessed the events unfolding. "If anyone has any concerns about any Irish people, any family they may have out there to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs or they can contact the Australian Embassy. As I say, we are fairly certain none of those who have been killed or injured are Irish citizens. "Many may have witnessed the traumatic events and our thoughts are with them and in particular with the families who have lost loved ones and who have injured people there as well," Minister Browne said. - Tabitha Monahan
The death toll from the Sydney stabbings has risen to seven, including the lone knife attacker, New South Wales Police said.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is "horrified" and will reach out to the Australian prime minister. "I am horrified by the attack in Sydney on innocent people, including children. "I will reach out to prime minster Anthony Albanese personally but for now the thoughts and prayers of everyone in Ireland are with our Australian friends," said Mr Harris on X.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the attack in the shopping centre in Sydney is a reminder of how the world is "more threatening and insecure". "Horrendous and a terrible shock at the news," Mr Martin said on The Anton Savage Show on Newstalk. "It's a reminder of the far more threatening and insecure world that we live in, when attacks of this kind can happen without any warning," he said. There is a significant Irish community in Sydney and the Tánaiste said thoughts go immediately to those family and friends in the area. "Of course all of us, we all know people who are in that district right now, family and friends and so forth. That's the immediate thought," Mr Martin said. "So our thoughts are with those who are now bereaved and who have lost loved ones in this horrific attack," he added. The Foreign Affairs Minister said these types of attacks were on the rise and analysis was needed on the background to the attack in Sydney. "I think it is for obviously the police and so on who will investigate this morning. We will learn more about it and the background to it. But I think it does mean overall these type of attacks are increasing and we need to analyse more, reflect more on what's the background to all of this," Mr Martin said. - Tabitha Monahan
Amy Blaney
A man who witnessed the attacker stab a woman in her stomach as he ran out of the shopping centre with his girlfriend said he felt "powerless" as he saw the knifeman "taking the life of someone else and wasn't able to do anything".
Carlos Ferras, 32, told the PA news agency: "I was in the shopping mall with my girlfriend when, very near the entrance, suddenly a crowd came in running. I started looking into the crowd trying to understand the commotion and very soon realised there was a guy following them with a quite long knife.
"At that point my girl pulled me to run into the mall, but I noticed we would be running in parallel to the attacker, as at that point he was literally next to us on the other side of the corridor. The guy seemed focused on going forward so he didn't notice us."
Mr Ferras, a software engineer based in Sydney, continued: "I took my girl and led her towards the mall entrance while keeping an eye on the guy and it was at that moment that I saw him stabbing a lady - he pretty much stuck the full knife into her stomach.
"We made it out but outside was as crazy as inside, people running in all directions. In the moment we didn't know how many attackers (there were) or anything else so we stayed vigilant and went to one of the parking exits hoping to get inside and get our car.
"Feelings are hard to describe during a situation like that. I would say I was definitely in alert, scared and worried of course, mostly about the uncertainty of not knowing how many attackers or if it was finished...I felt powerless, I had the guy in front me, alone, saw him taking the life of someone else, and wasn't able to do anything."
Amy Blaney
A Co Clare man has described the "horrifying scenes" he witnessed while in the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney as the stabbing attack took place, which has “shook him to the core”.
Niall Naughton, who is from Boston, Co Clare is living in Sydney for the last seven months and went to centre to do some shopping.
“Usually, I don't venture to Bondi but for some reason I did today,
- Police said the 40-year-old suspect entered the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction at around 3.10pm local time (6.10am UK time) and then left "very shortly after" before returning at about 3.20pm
- The man stabbed shoppers as he moved through the shopping centre - including a mother and her nine-month-old baby
- Video footage appears to show a shopper confronting the attacker on an escalator in the centre by holding a bollard towards him
- Emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction at around 3.30pm, following reports that multiple people had been stabbed
- A female police officer who was nearby went into the centre alone and approached the attacker who had by this point moved to level five of the shopping centre
- The officer shot the attacker after he turned to face her, raised a knife and lunged at her
- The officer conducted CPR on the attacker until the arrival of paramedics, who worked on the man; however, he could not be revived
- New South Wales Ambulance sent 40 resources to the scene including four medical teams
- At a press conference, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the knifeman was a 40-year-old man known to law enforcement and his attack was not thought to be terror-related
- Four women and a man died in the shopping centre and another woman later died in hospital, police confirmed
Amy Blaney
Minister James Browne has confirmed no Irish people have been hurt in the attack in Sydney.
"A lot of Irish people would be in that area both as tourists and living and working in that area. The Department of Foreign Affairs' knowledge to date is that no Irish people have been caught up in the situation in terms of any physical injuries," said Mr Browne.
"But it is a horrendous attack in Bondi Junction," he told RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin.
While the department did not believe any Irish citizens were harmed in the attack, there were some who had been in the shopping centre and had witnessed the events unfolding.
"If anyone has any concerns about any Irish people, any family they may have out there to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs or they can contact the Australian Embassy. As I say, we are fairly certain none of those who have been killed or injured are Irish citizens.
"Many may have witnessed the traumatic events and our thoughts are with them and in particular with the families who have lost loved ones and who have injured people there as well," Minister Browne said.
- Tabitha Monahan
Amy Blaney
The Prince and Princess of Wales have said they are "shocked and saddened" by the Sydney stabbings, adding that their thoughts are with those affected and the "heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others".
Amy Blaney
BABY IN SURGERY
A nine-month-old baby has undergone surgery after being attacked during a stabbing spree by a knifeman in a Sydney shopping centre.
It has been reported that the baby's mother died in hospital after the attack by a lone knifeman.
Australian website News.com.au reported that the baby was stabbed in the stomach and the mother had subsequently died in hospital.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb told a press conference: "The last update I had was that it (the baby) had been in surgery and it's too early to say really. But it's awful."
Asked about reports that the baby's mother had died in hospital, Ms Webb said: "I've heard that same rumour but I can't confirm that."
A witness to the stabbings said he helped the baby and mother after they were attacked.
The man told 9News Sydney: "The baby got stabbed. The mum got stabbed and came 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."
The man's brother said: "He helped with holding the baby and trying to compress the baby and same with the mother.
"We just kept yelling out to get some clothes, get some shirts and just help us to compress and stop the baby from bleeding.
"With my brother holding the baby so well and really compressing, I think the baby's fine.
"The mother, unfortunately, started to have a lot of blood come out of her mouth."
The man added: "We were just shopping and saw the man run up to the woman with the baby and then we were both ready to go and help out.
"But I just said to my brother, we've got to run in - ran in, told the guys to lock up the doors and then the mother came with the baby bleeding, stabbed. We got them into the store and just got them safe and then rang for help."
Amy Blaney
A husband said his wife was taken to hospital with a stab wound after the Sydney attack.
Speaking to ABC News Australia outside St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, where he had been waiting with his children for news of his wife, he said: "We didn't know what had happened.
"She had just got a little stab in the top right hand corner of her back.
"She thought she had got punched then she touched herself and there was blood, then apart from that she is OK, she is alive and that's over - the stress is over, the panic, no one could tell you anything, it was terrible.
"You see it overseas but you don't see it over here."
Amy Blaney
Amy Blaney
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was no indication yet of the man's motive.
"This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeting innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping," he told a press conference.
"Tonight the first thoughts of all Australians are with the victims of these terrible acts."
Australia has some of the world's toughest gun and knife laws, and attacks such as the one on Saturday are rare.
Amy Blaney
Police said they had identified the attacker as a 40-year-old man who was known to them, but added that they do not think he was motivated by terrorism.
Four women and a man died in the shopping centre and another woman later died in hospital, police said.
A nine-month-old infant has undergone surgery and "about eight" people, including the child, are in hospitals around Sydney receiving treatment for "different injuries" as a result of the attack.
Amy Blaney
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the Sydney attack was "awful, awful".
She said: "The police officer that attended is enormously courageous, as were other police officers that had attended that Bondi area.
"I spoke to them this afternoon when they returned to the station."
She said shopkeepers and people within the shopping centre also "showed amazing courage and bravery".
"It was an awful situation and no doubt people dealing with the trauma that they witnessed but it could have been much worse."
A female police officer who shot dead the 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 officer was one of dozens who responded to a stabbing spree at around 3.30pm on Saturday 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.
Amy Blaney
The death toll from the Sydney stabbings has risen to seven, including the lone knife attacker, New South Wales Police said.
Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese posted on social media site X: "Our hearts go out to those injured and we offer our thanks to those caring for them as well as our brave police and first responders."
Amy Blaney
A man said he helped a baby which was stabbed at a shopping centre in Sydney.
The man told 9News Sydney: "The baby got stabbed. The mum got stabbed and came over with a baby and threw it at me - I was holding the baby, it looked pretty bad.
He added: "There was a lot of blood on the floor. I hope the baby is all right."
The man's brother, who was also at the shopping centre, added: "He helped with holding the baby and trying to compress the baby and same with the mother. We just kept yelling out to get some clothes, get some shirts and and just help us to compress and stop the baby from bleeding.
"With my brother holding the baby so well and really compressing - I think the baby's fine. The mother unfortunately started to have a lot of blood come out of her mouth."
Asked about the attack, he added: "We were just shopping and saw the man run up to the woman with the baby and then we were both ready to go and help out. But I just said to my brother, we've got to run in - ran in, told the guys to lock up the doors and then the mother came with the baby bleeding, stabbed and we got them into the store and just got them safe and then rang for help."
