The death toll in the Westfield Bondi Junction attack rose to seven, including six customers and one gangster. The latest one victim was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead due to his injuries.
7:20pm Update: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction and thanked civilians and police officers who tried to stop the attackers.
Albanese said: "I am as shocked as all Australians are by this incident. ”
"People should have been shopping happily on a Saturday afternoon without worrying about danger. It is truly shocking that such an incident is happening in Australia. ”
Albanese said the attack was "beyond words" and that "it was a horrific act of violence in which gangsters indiscriminately targeted innocent people who were shopping." ”
"Tonight, all Australians are concerned about the victims of this attack, as well as their relatives and friends. We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones. ”
Albanese also said that Australia is a peace-loving country, and similar violent attacks have no place in this country.
The Prime Minister hopes that those injured who have been taken to the hospital will recover soon. In addition, Albanese gave special praise to the female police officer who shot and killed the gangster, as well as 1 male shopper who tried to stop the gangster.
Update 6:36pm: The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a preliminary police investigation has shown that the knife-wielding assailant should have acted alone, but there is no further information about the man at this stage.
新州副警务处长Anthony Cooke
NSW Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Cooke said: "At around 3.10pm today, the man walked into a restaurant in Bondi Junction before leaving. At around 3:20 a.m., he returned to the mall again. ”
"We believe that the man attacked multiple people inside the mall with a weapon that he was carrying. After receiving the report, a police officer on duty nearby rushed to the mall. ”
"The officer confronted the gangsters on the 5th floor of the mall, who turned around and tried to attack with a knife. The officer then opened fire, and the assailant is now dead. ”
Update 6:23pm: Police say the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction left six people dead, including five victims and one knife-wielding assailant.
In addition, eight people were injured in the attack, one of them seriously. At the moment, the police are still searching for another attacker who may have been involved in the crime, but it is not possible to determine whether this person exists.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the attack.
"Unfortunately, many people were killed or injured in this attack," the prime minister said. Australians are concerned about those affected by this incident, their families and friends, and we would like to thank the valiant police officers and healthcare workers. ”
6:15pm update: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that eight of the injured included a nine-month-old baby. There are reports that multiple people died in the attack.
Update 5:55pm: Video taken by witnesses at the scene shows a knife-wielding man in a green sweatshirt chasing and slashing customers, and the crowd is scared into fleeing.
Update 5:48pm: The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Rakesh Sanga, who has a shop on the fifth floor of Westfield Bondi Junction, said a female police officer shot and killed the knife-wielding assailant.
"I was scared when I heard the sound outside, the police rushed over, and there was another man with a knife, and the customers were running away. ”
Singa said the man in the green T-shirt was shot dead by a policewoman and that "she should have fired two or three shots."
The officer then asked Sanga to stay in the store and not leave, and he was later allowed to leave the mall.
Update 5:41pm: The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a woman named Aviva said in an interview with 2GB Radio that she had just left Coles to pick up her car at the time of the incident and saw a body on the ground.
"I saw two bodies, it was horrible, it was horrible, I was shocked. ”
The NSW Ambulance Association said eight people have been taken to hospital, including a child.
Two of them were taken to St Vincents, two to Royal Prince Alfred, one to Sydney Children's Hospital and the rest of the injured to Royal Prince Alfred and St George Hospital, respectively.
It is not known the age of the injured or the extent of their injuries.
Update 5:32pm: The Sydney Morning Herald reported that video taken by witnesses at the scene showed a man wearing shorts and a sweatshirt walking inside the mall with a knife, and customers were scared into fleeing.
Witnesses said the man "didn't go for anyone" and "he looked casual, wandering around the mall with a knife."
Another witness, Bill, said he saw a body in front of Chanel on the fourth floor of the mall.
"I saw with my own eyes the blood on the ground, a corpse lying in the doorway of Chanel. There was also 1 woman carrying her leg and there were security guards or passers-by trying to help her. ”
Bill said the blood stains on the floor were more than 10 meters long.
Update 5:20pm: Australia's Channel 7 news report said that medical staff have confirmed that seven people have been taken to hospital, including one injured person who was taken to Sydney Children's Hospital.
A witness named Rowan said he saw a man with a knife chasing and slashing customers. He and a few others ran into a gym and locked the door when they heard gunshots.
Australia's Channel 7 news reported that it is believed that it was the police officers inside the mall who opened fire on the gangsters.
Rowan said they were then evacuated to the roof of the mall. Before leaving, officers searched them.
Update 5:02pm: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports that a spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said a total of two gangsters are believed to have carried out the attack. One of them was shot by the police, and the officers are still in full pursuit of the other gangster.
Police said that many people in the mall have not yet been evacuated.
Update 4:54pm: NSW Police have confirmed that one man was shot in this attack. "At around 4pm today, police officers received a report that multiple people had been stabbed and that one man had been shot at Westfield Bondi Junction. ”
"Police are appealing to the public to avoid entering the area, the investigation of the case is still ongoing, and it is not possible to provide further details at this time. ”
Update 4:40pm: Australia's Channel 9 news reports that six people may have been stabbed or shot in the incident, but the exact number has not been confirmed.
Video taken at the scene shows heavily armed police officers entering the mall to hunt for the attackers. In addition, many people remained in the mall after hearing the gunshots and failed to evacuate in time.
Update 4:30pm: The Daily Mail reports that witnesses say "a man with a gun is running around at Westfield Bondi Junction".
There are also witnesses who said that many people were stabbed on the fourth floor of the mall. Photographs taken at the scene show the injured being carried onto stretchers and taken to ambulances.
So far, the police have not released details about the incident.
Australia's Channel 9 News reported that police are conducting a large-scale operation in Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction, and multiple people have been killed.
Video taken at the scene shows a large number of police officers arriving at the scene and the surrounding area being cordoned off.
Many Chinese netizens posted that they heard gunshots at the scene.