Six dead, including attacker
The police assistant commissioner, Anthony Cooke, is providing an update at a press conference.
Cooke confirms the attacker was shot dead by a nearby police officer who was on her own.
“She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five [of the mall] as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him. He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.”
He added:
“I’m advised that there are five victims who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender.”
Key events
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has labelled Saturday’s attack “a horrific act of violence”.
Albanese, speaking from Canberra, said:
“The devastating scenes of Bondi Junction beyond words, or understanding, Australians will be shocked this evening.
This was a horrific act of violence indiscriminately targeted at the innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday, doing their shopping.”
Albanese said the “nation offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those who are grieving for someone they have lost and we send our strength to those who have been injured”.
We’re expecting the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to hold a press conference with the Australian Federal Police commissioner, Reece Kershaw, in Canberra at 7:10PM.
‘Like he was having an ice cream in the park’
Witnesses have reported seeing the attacker before he began stabbing.
At a press conference, police said they believe the attacker had been in the shopping centre, exited, and returned with a knife, before beginning his stabbing spree.
One man, speaking to the ABC, said that when the man re-entered the centre carrying the knife he was moving “really calmly”.
“He was walking like he was having an ice cream in the park,” the man said.
Tamsin Rose
State opposition leader releases statement
Mark Speakman, the New South Wales opposition leader, has released the following statement:
Tonight we are shocked and saddened by today’s tragedy at Bondi Junction. The NSW police have advised that the situation is now under control.
Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones.
The NSW Opposition expresses our gratitude to our police, health workers, other first responders and members of the public, and particularly to those who displayed extraordinary bravery in the face of tragedy.
We pray for the speedy recovery of those in hospital tonight.
Now, and in the coming days and weeks, it’s important that those affected by this tragedy receive the care and support they need.
As a community we’ll need to come together to support those who have suffered injury, loss and trauma today.
Where is Bondi Junction? Context for non-Sydneysiders
For those readers outside of Sydney, this attack has occurred at a large, six-level Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction in the city’s eastern suburbs.
While the eastern suburbs are traditionally home to the some of the city’s more affluent residents, Bondi Junction serves as a key shopping and transport hub for the broader area.
It’s not far from Bondi’s iconic beach, and is roughly 5km from Sydney’s main central business district.
‘We were told to keep our phones on silent and stay quiet’
We’re still hearing more stories from shoppers who were inside the Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction at the time of the stabbing attack.
One local woman, from the nearby suburb of Clovelly who asked not to be named, told Guardian Australia she was inside the Myer department store on level 2:
“I heard a scream somewhere outside. Then a voiceover throughout Myer said ‘Code Brown.’
She said “we were then told by staff that something very serious had happened in the centre”.
We had to run and hide in a location on the floor which turned out to be a storeroom. There would have been about 70 or 80 of us in there. We were told to keep our phones on silent and stay quiet. It was very hot in there.
She said “there was quite a bit of confusion throughout the hour that we were in there with some orders being to evacuate and other orders to stay put”.
At one stage we were evacuated and then told to run back inside. Staff did their best they could in the circumstances. Then we were told to evacuate and ran out of the centre.
Motive unclear, police not ruling out terrorism
Police say no clear motive has emerged in relation to the attacker who has killed five people and injured several others, including a baby.
The assistant commissioner, Anthony Cooke, said the man had been in the centre, left the shopping centre, then returned, at which point he began stabbing people in the centre.
No ideology or motive is clear.
There’s nothing that we are aware of at the scene that would indicate any motive or any ideology.
Asked by a reporter if police were ruling out terrorism, Cooke said:
We’re not ruling anything out.
Several injured taken to hospital, death toll likely to increase
Tamsin Rose
The assistant commissioner, Anthony Cooke, has said “there are more than several other people who have been conveyed to hospital”.
Guardian Australia understands the death toll is likely to increase.
Attacker ‘acted alone’, ‘no continuing threat’
Anthony Cooke has said:
“From preliminary inquiries, it would appear that this person has acted alone. I am content that there is no continuing threat.”
Six dead, including attacker
The police assistant commissioner, Anthony Cooke, is providing an update at a press conference.
Cooke confirms the attacker was shot dead by a nearby police officer who was on her own.
“She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five [of the mall] as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him. He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.”
He added:
“I’m advised that there are five victims who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender.”
NSW premier to return to Sydney immediately
Tamsin Rose
Chris Minns, the New South Wales premier, will return to Sydney immediately following the Bondi Junction incident. Minns had been out of Sydney on Saturday and had an acting premier covering for him.
He just released this statement:
I am horrified to hear about the events at Bondi Junction this afternoon. I am making immediate arrangements to return to Sydney.
I want to thank NSW police, emergency services and first responders and the community for their bravery in the face of this shocking incident.
Anthony Albanese responds to attack and confirms multiple casualties
Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has extended his sympathies to the victims. He wrote on Twitter/X:
I have been briefed by the AFP on the devastating events at Bondi Junction.
Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones.
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.”
I have been briefed by the AFP on the devastating events at Bondi Junction.
Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 13, 2024
Reports of potential second attacker likely incorrect
It appears that reports of a potential second attacker are incorrect.
Police were sweeping the shopping centre conducting searches, but now believe there was just one attacker.
The situation is understood to now be under control.
A shopper who had been at a gym inside the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction told the ABC from the street outside:
I saw a woman lying on the floor in [the shop] Chanel.
It was insanity, I wasn’t expecting it. I thought I was going to die.
