At least 6 people died after a knife attack in Sydney, Australia, this Saturday, April 13. The assailant was shot dead by the police.
A knife attack left at least 6 dead this Saturday, April 13 in a shopping center in Sydney, Australia. Eight people, including a 9-month-old baby, were taken to hospital.
• An attack in the middle of a shopping center
Several people were attacked this Saturday while attending the vast Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center in Sydney. A man, armed with a knife, attacked several passers-by, while there was a large crowd on this Saturday afternoon.
“We saw the guy pass by and go up the escalator with a big knife in his hand. He walked calmly, as if he were taking a walk,” says a witness, anonymously.
Surveillance camera footage broadcast by Australian media also showed a man with a large knife running through the shopping center, as well as injured people lying on the ground.
• The suspect neutralized quickly
A female police officer, present on the scene at the time of the incident, quickly intervened. According to witnesses, she asked the assailant to put down his knife, before shooting him in the chest.
She then attempted to perform cardiac massage on the attacker. However, he did not survive his injuries.
The Australian Prime Minister praised the courage of the policewoman. “She is certainly a hero. She has undoubtedly saved lives by doing so,” he said.
• At least 6 dead
Initially, Australian police reported 5 deaths. The toll was then revised upwards during the day and rose to 6 deaths.
According to Sydney Morning Herald, the sixth victim would be the mother of a 9-month-old baby injured in the attack. She would not have survived her injuries.
In addition to the dead, 8 people, including the infant, were injured and taken to hospital. “They all have traumatic injuries,” said the New South Wales state emergency services spokesperson.
• A man already known to the police
For the moment, the identity of the suspect has not been revealed by law enforcement. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb simply indicated that it was a 40-year-old man and that he was already known to law enforcement.
“We have information about this person, but we are waiting to confirm his identity,” she said.
The man was shot dead by police. “There is no longer any risk,” assured Karen Webb in the middle of the day.
• The motive of the attack still unknown
The motive for the attack was not immediately specified. The spokesperson for the New South Wales state emergency services, Anthony Cooke, however, initially indicates that the “terrorist” trail cannot be ruled out at this stage.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb then clarified that the Australian police believe that this is probably not a terrorist act.
According to initial information, 5 of the 6 people killed were women. Is it a coincidence or did the attacker target his victims? “It is too early to speculate,” said the police commissioner.
According to the Prime Minister, “the motives (for the attack) are not yet known”. “Speculating on this subject would be useless at this time,” he added, indicating that the attacker had obviously “acted alone”.
• “Devastating events” for the Prime Minister
The Australian Prime Minister deplored the “devastating events” that occurred in the shopping center, on his X account (formerly Twitter), assuring that “the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones”.
King Charles III, British sovereign but also head of state of Australia, denounced a “senseless” aggression. “My wife (Queen Camilla) and I were shocked and horrified to learn of the tragic knife attack,” he wrote in a statement.
Prince William and Princess Kate, for their part, said they were “shocked and saddened” by the attack that occurred this Saturday.