Sydney, Australia
Knife attack in a shopping center: At least six dead – police shoot perpetrator
Many details about the knife attack in Sydney, Australia are still unclear
© Rafael Ben-Ari / Chameleons Eye / Picture Alliance
There was a knife attack in an Australian shopping center that left several people dead. The perpetrator was shot dead by the police. The background is still unclear.
An attacker stabbed six people and injured several others in a busy shopping center in the Australian metropolis of Sydney on Saturday. Australian police did not rule out a “terrorist” background to the crime. The attacker was shot dead on site by a police officer.
After the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center, rescue workers said eight injured people were taken to various hospitals, including a small child. “They all have traumatic injuries,” it said.
Surveillance camera footage showed a man stabbing people lying on the ground in the shopping center with a long knife. The perpetrator was wearing an Australian Rugby League sweater. According to eyewitnesses, panic broke out in the shopping center, which was full of visitors on Saturday afternoon (local time). People ran in fear to get to safety. The police tried frantically to secure the area. Several people hid in shops.
Sydney: Authorities assume lone perpetrator
“There are five victims who have died as a result of this attacker’s actions,” Anthony Cooke of the New South Wales Police told the press. Shortly afterwards, another person died in hospital. The perpetrator’s motive was not immediately clear, but according to Cooke, a “terrorist” background cannot be ruled out. The identity of the perpetrator was therefore still unclear.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it appeared the perpetrator acted alone. The crime “cannot be put into words.” He expressed his condolences to the victims and relatives on the online service
“It was terrible, some people were crying,” Pranjul Bokaria told the AFP news agency about the attack in the shopping center. She had just finished her work and was doing some shopping when the attack occurred. She ran into a store, hid there and escaped with others via an emergency exit. She spoke of “chaos” on site, people running and police everywhere.
Reece Colmenares was on her way to her gym when she saw “people running and screaming.” People were shouting that someone had been stabbed. She then ran into a nearby store with around a dozen other people. “They took us downstairs (to a room) and closed up shop,” she said. “It’s terrible, there are little children and elderly people and people in wheelchairs everywhere.”
Numerous police and emergency vehicles took up positions in front of the shopping complex and were there even after dark. Police called on the public to avoid the area.
There have never been any knife attacks of this kind in Australia; The crime rate in the country is quite low.