SYDNEY: Australian police on Sunday mentioned a 40-year-old itinerant with psychological sickness was behind a Sydney buying middle stabbing rampage that killed six folks, together with a brand new mum whose nine-month-old child continues to be in hospital with severe wounds.
New South Wales police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke mentioned the assailant — who was shot lifeless by a senior police officer on the scene on Saturday — was Queensland man Joel Cauchi.
5 ladies and one male safety guard have been killed within the assault as Cauchi roved by means of a packed buying middle within the metropolis’s Bondi Junction neighborhood with a big knife. Twelve extra individuals are nonetheless in hospital.
“The sound of individuals screaming was horrific,” mentioned eyewitness Daphi Kiselstein, who was buying on the time of the assault and took refuge in a retailer with different terrified folks.
Cooke mentioned there was no proof to recommend Cauchi was “pushed by any specific motivation, ideology or in any other case.”
“We all know that the offender within the matter suffered from, suffers from, psychological well being,” he added.
Cauchi was tracked down and shot lifeless by solo senior police officer Amy Scott, who was immediately hailed by Australia’s prime minister as a “hero” who had saved numerous lives.
Cauchi’s dad and mom mentioned their son had been residing in a car and hostels of late, and was solely in sporadic contact through textual content messages.
Police mentioned he was identified with a psychological well being concern at age 17, however that they had no indication about why he might have turn into violent.
His dad and mom issued an announcement by means of police providing condolences to their son’s victims and their households.
They’d additionally despatched a message of “help” to the officer who shot him lifeless, “expressing their issues for her welfare.”
Queensland police mentioned Cauchi had been in touch with police a number of occasions during the last 4 to 5 years however has by no means been arrested or charged with any offense.
He’s believed to have traveled to Sydney a couple of month in the past and employed a small storage unit within the metropolis. It contained private belongings, together with a boogie board.
The assault has triggered sorrow, outrage and shock in Sydney, the place residents are comparatively unaccustomed to violent crime.
The buying middle is the point of interest of a effectively frequented suburb close to the famed seaside, and is all the time stuffed with customers and households going for meals or to the cinema.
Among the many victims was 38-year-old mom Ashlee Good, who succumbed to her accidents after desperately passing her child to 2 strangers within the hope they might save the kid’s life.
Good’s household described her as “a gorgeous mom, daughter, sister, companion, pal, all spherical excellent human and a lot extra.”
“To the 2 males who held and cared for our child when Ashlee couldn’t — phrases can not specific our gratitude,” they mentioned in an announcement to Australian media.
The child, named Harriet, was mentioned to be recovering effectively after prolonged surgical procedure.
Two of the victims are mentioned to haven’t any household in Australia and makes an attempt are being made to contact kinfolk abroad.
A Fb profile mentioned Cauchi got here from Toowoomba, close to Brisbane, and had attended a neighborhood highschool and college.
A particular gray, crimson and yellow dragon tattoo on his proper arm was used to assist establish him.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned Australians have been struggling to grasp an “unspeakable” assault that’s “actually simply past comprehension.”
“Individuals going about their Saturday afternoon buying needs to be secure, shouldn’t be in danger. However tragically, we noticed a lack of life, and folks can be grieving for family members right this moment,” he mentioned.
“We additionally know there are numerous folks nonetheless in hospital coping with restoration, and our ideas and prayers are with them.”
Albanese mentioned he had acquired messages from US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon amongst others.
Exterior the buying middle early on Sunday, a set of flowers began to construct.
Households embraced as they lay flowers. One man stood silently and wiped away tears, earlier than transferring on.
Sydney resident Paul Hoolahan mentioned he got here to pay his respects to those that died on the buying middle, the place he usually has espresso together with his grandchildren.
“It’s emotional,” Hoolahan instructed AFP. “It shouldn’t occur. It hit right here,” he mentioned pointing to his chest.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns flew again from Japan on information of the assault.
He mentioned it had been “unbelievable to see full strangers leap in, run towards the hazard for their very own lives in hurt’s solution to save somebody that they’ve by no means met earlier than.”
“We’ve obtained some fantastic folks in our metropolis,” he mentioned.
