1 month ago
1 of 2 | Police and emergency services are seen astatine Westfield Bondi Junction shopping halfway successful Sydney connected Saturday aft responding to reports of aggregate stabbings wrong nan center. Police confirmed six group died and nan fishy was changeable dormant by a responding officer. Photo by Steve Markham/EPA-EFE
April 13 (UPI) -- Six group were stabbed to decease and a man wielding a weapon changeable dormant by constabulary Saturday astatine a shopping promenade successful Sydney, authorities said.
Five women and 1 man were killed during nan stabbing rampage astatine nan Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center, while a 9-month-old babe was among different group of group hospitalized pinch injuries, according to New South Wales police.
Police said nan incident began astir 3.30 p.m. section clip erstwhile emergency services were called to nan promenade pursuing reports aggregate group had been stabbed.
An serviceman attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command responded and was allegedly confronted by a man pinch a knife. Police said nan man lunged astatine nan serviceman earlier he was fatally shot.
The serviceman conducted CPR connected nan fishy until nan presence of paramedics, according to a constabulary statement. The medics, however, could not revive nan man, who was declared dormant astatine nan scene.
The shopping halfway remained closed, and a crime segment has been established.
Authorities said nan NSW Crime Command's Homicide Squad and nan Central Metropolitan Region are starring nan investigation into nan circumstances surrounding nan incident.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters 4 women and a man were recovered dormant successful nan shopping halfway and different female died aft being taken to a hospital.
Webb said 8 group were group treated for injuries, but later reports indicated nan number of those hospitalized had risen to 11, including a 9-month-old baby.
Webb said location was nary contiguous denotation that immoderate of nan victims were specifically targeted aliases that nan incident represented a violent attack.
"The organization ... should consciousness very sad astir what's happened present [but] they should person nary ongoing concerns," she said. "We judge that this personification acted unsocial and there's nary ongoing threat to nan community."
The incident shocked Australia and brought beardown responses from politicians.
"This was a horrific enactment of violence, indiscriminately targeted astatine guiltless group going astir an mean Saturday, doing their shopping," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an address. "Tonight nan first thoughts of each Australians are pinch nan victims of these unspeakable acts and their loved ones."
He praised nan first responders and nan aesculapian unit who would beryllium "working done nan night" to nan prevention nan lives of those injured successful nan attack.
"To immoderate Australian affected by this tragedy, each Australian is pinch you," nan premier curate added.
"We person mislaid six guiltless lives, and coming location are aesculapian unit moving astir nan timepiece to effort to prevention nan lives of astatine slightest 8 others," New South Wales Acting Premier Penny Sharpe said a briefing.
The incident brought a connection of support and condolences from nan Prince and Princess of Wales.
"We are shocked and saddened by nan unspeakable events successful Sydney earlier today.," Prince William and Princess Catherine said successful a social media post. "Our thoughts are pinch each those affected, including nan loved ones of those mislaid and nan heroic emergency responders who risked their ain lives to prevention others."
