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Westfield Bondi Junction incident live updates: Heartbreak as mother of nine-month-old baby becomes the seventh victim of horror shopping centre bloodbath

5 months ago 22

By Kevin Airs and Eliza Mcphee For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 07:31 BST, 13 April 2024 | Updated: 11:58 BST, 13 April 2024

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Seven people are dead following a terrifying stabbing attack at Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre on Saturday afternoon.

The knifeman was fatally shot by police but six innocent shoppers were stabbed to death.

Eight others have been rushed to hospital with stab wounds including a nine-month-old baby. 

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage. 

Sixth victim is identified as mother, 38, whose nine-month-old baby was also stabbed in terrifying attack

The woman succumbed to her injuries in hospital on Saturday evening.

She was one of six people stabbed to death at Bondi Junction Westfield.

The knifeman was also killed with the current death toll at seven.

Seven dead, including six innocent shoppers as police fatally shoot knifeman at Bondi Junction Westfield

Seven people, including six innocent shoppers, are dead following a terrifying stabbing attack at Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre before the knifeman was fatally shot by police.

Multiple other shoppers have been injured in the attack, with the Westfield complex in Sydney's east, going into lockdown just before 4pm on Saturday.

Shocking footage has emerged of victims lying in pools of blood while police desperately try to save their lives.

Paramedics rushed eight patients, including a nine-month-old baby, to hospital following the stabbing attack on Saturday afternoon.

NSW Ambulance said 40 resources were deployed to the scene including four medical units.

Five shoppers had been killed in the shopping centre, including four women and one man.

A sixth victim, a 38-year-old mother, succumbed to her injuries in hospital later on Friday night.

Eight people remain in hospital, including the 38-year-old's baby who underwent surgery.

Multiple dead in stabbing in Bondi Junction Westfield

Pix by Gavin Lockhart who witness cop shooting dead knifeman.

Forensic police officers arrive at the scene

Killer crashed the party: How police chief learned of Bondi massacre

Police Commissioner Karen Webb was enjoying some rare respite from weeks of attacks when one of her officers shot dead a killer. Ms Webb was among the guests invited to watch day two of the Sydney Autumn Carnival at Royal Randwick racecourse in the exclusive Director’s Room on Saturday. Her host was Peter V’landys, chief executive of Racing NSW and chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. On the menu was Alaskan crab ravioli, char-grilled Darling Downs beef fillet and tiramisu for dessert. Among the guests were radio host Ben Fordham – who has been a fierce critic of Ms Webb’s handling of policing issues during her time as commissioner. Fordham pre-empted any showdown with Ms Webb by fronting the commissioner and light-heartedly asking if she was accompanied by her fifth media spokesperson. Ms Webb has gone through a series of media advisers, including former Spotlight producer Steve Jackson, who was let go before he started work. At lunch she was seated next to the editor of the Daily Telegraph, Ben English. There were also two plain-clothes officers outside the Director’s Room watching their boss through the glass windows. Among Ms Webb’s fellow guests were some of the most senior media figures in the country, as well as on-air presenters including Sam Armytage and Mel McLaughlin. Ms Webb was gone by the time news reached the racecourse of the atrocity a couple of suburbs away at Westfield. But some of the officers previously with her were being briefed about what was happening at Bondi Junction as it unfolded. Also among the guests was radio and television presenter Deb Knight, who left the track to cover the Westfield massacre on A Current Affair.

Bondi Junction Westfield will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday

The centre will work with police to remove cars that had to be left in the centre.

Police say there is 'no suggestion' the stabbing was a targeted attack - tragically leaving six dead

Police believe the attack was not terror-related

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the attacker is believed to be a 40-year-old man

She said police are still waiting to confirm his identity and did not disclose any other ideas.

The man is known to law enforcement.

How the heroic cop took down the knifeman before rushing to try and save other victims

Watch the incredible moment a heroic police officer is seen sprinting towards the knifeman before fatally shooting him

What we know so far about the Bondi Junction stabbing?

The knifeman, believed to be 40-years-old, initially entered the Westfield shopping centre at about 3.10pm on Saturday and left.

He returned at about 3.20pm and stabbed multiple people, with six shoppers dead.

Shocking footage showed the man, who was wearing a Kangaroos jersey for the Australian rugby league team, running around the centre armed with a large knife.

A senior female police officer immediately jumped into action and followed the man who was on the top level of the centre.

He turned to face the officer and raised his knife before she fired her gun, killing the offender.

The officer performed CPR on the man but he died at the scene.

NSW Police said the attacker was acting alone and told the community there was no ongoing threat.

No details about the offender or the motive behind the shocking attack have been revealed.

Police say they are not ruling anything out, including the possibility it was a terror attack.

The man is yet to be formally identified by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said he was known to law enforcement.

Six people have died as a result of stabbing injuries, including the 38-year-old mother of a baby who was also injured.

Seven others remain in hospital in various conditions.

The shopping centre has been closed.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb to provide an update at 8.30pm

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shares his heartache at Bondi Junction stabbing

Mr Albanese thanked first responders and heroic bystanders who acted with bravery at the stabbing.

'Australians will be shocked as I am by an incident such as this,' he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

'It’s such a shock this happens in a country such as ours, where people should be able to go about their shopping on a Saturday afternoon without any thought that there is risk involved.'

Heartbreaking image shows a young baby being stretchered into an ambulance after being stabbed

The nine-month-old baby was rushed to hospital after the infant and their mother were stabbed.

It's unclear what condition the child is in.

Bondi Westfield baby on strecher

Stabber was reportedly holding a 30cm knife during horrific attack

Hussein Osseili was at Bondi Juncti0on Westfield with his 6-year-old sister and grandmother when he heard gunshots and immediately knew what they were.

'I just thought I have to get my family to safety. I told them to leave. Then I saw a man with a big hunting knife - about 30cm long on the escalator in front of Woolies,' he said.

'He went past Zara and Kmart, he was waving the knife around and stabbing people.

'He went to level 5 and then I heard more gunshots from the police. My family is all safe luckily.'

Hussein Osseili.

Father places eyemasks over his children's faces so they don't have to see the horrors of what unfolded

The father was seen escorting his two children away from Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday afternoon, with his son and daughter wearing eyemasks.

He held both children close to him as he walked calmly away from the shopping centre.

Many shoppers have been left traumatised after seeing victims lying in pools of blood.

Witnesses recall seeing the knifeman running through the shopping centre with the huge weapon

Huma Hussainy and Mohamed Naveed described the dramatic scenes of seeing the knifeman carrying a large hunting knife.

The Parramatta couple heard screaming and saw everyone running while Mr Naveed was paying for a t-shirt and pants.

They then saw the bodies of two young women in their 20s lying outside Cotton On.

'Then I saw him coming back still holding the knife and I thought he was coming for us,' he said.

The pair then hid in the Lululemon change rooms for up to an hour.

When they came out they said the bodies of the two young women were still outside the store.

Ms Hussainy guessed the knifeman was about 35.

Female senior police officer acted alone to takedown knifeman after he killed five shoppers

The senior police inspector jumped into action to confront the knifeman alone.

She began to follow the man who was at the top level of the shopping centre before he turned towards her and raised his knife.

She then fatally shot the man.

Police say they are still working to identify the knifeman

NSW Police say the knifeman acted alone and there is no 'continuing threat'

Distraught shopper reveals she thought she was going to die

The young woman had been at Bondi Junction at the time of the stabbing attack, and was visibly distraught by what had unfolded.

'It was just like the worst thing ever,' she told reporters.

'Who does that to people?'

She said she saw a woman lying in Chanel, who was understood to have been killed.

'I thought I was going to die,' she said.

Heavily armed tactical police are seen at the scene

Multiple dead in stabbing in Bondi Junction

Police enter the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall after a stabbing incident in Sydney on April 13, 2024. Australian police on April 13 said they had received reports that "multiple people" were stabbed at a busy shopping centre in Sydney. (Photo by David GRAY / AFP) (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

Anthony Albanese sends his condolences to the stabbing victims and their loved ones

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted on X just after 6pm on Saturday following the stabbing attack.

'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,' he said.

'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.'

Evacuated shoppers left distraught as police operation continues at Bondi Junction

Eight patients including a nine-month-old baby are rushed to hospital

Paramedics rushed eight patients, including a nine-month-old baby to hospital following the stabbing attack on Saturday afternoon.

It's unclear what conditions those patients are in or their ages.

Terrifying moment shoppers are evacuated from Bondi Junction Westfield

Police officers are seen desperately working on one of the stabbing victims

Four shoppers are dead after a knifeman went on a stabbing spree in Bondi Junction.

Shocking footage has emerged of victims lying in pools of blood.

Police officers have been seen desperately working to revive the victims.

Father jumps into action to defend his family from the knifeman as chilling footage emerges of him running rampant at Bondi Junction

Shocking photo shows a victim lying in a pool of blood in Chanel while police desperately work to revive another

It's understand a woman was fatally killed in the luxury store, while police are seen working to revive another victim.

Chilling photo shows the knifeman running through Bondi Junction Westfield

Shopper is seen bravely trying to defend himself against the knifeman

A shopper was seen using a bollard from the shopping centre as a weapon to defend himself when he was faced with the knifeman on an escalator at Bondi Junction.

The knifeman, in a Kangaroos jersey, is see approaching the shopper, who readies himself to attack.

Hero bystander saves a baby after the infant and their mother were stabbed

Female police officer fatally shoots knifeman after terrifying shopping centre attack

The offender was wearing a Kangaroos jersey, from the Australian rugby team, and was seen holding a knife before he was shot three times by a female police officer.

NSW Police to hold press conference on the stabbing at 5.45pm

Knifeman reportedly attacked a woman and her baby

The knifeman is understood to have attacked a mother and her baby before he was fatally shot by police.

The baby is undergoing surgery in hospital.

Shoppers forced to hide in stores after knifeman went on a rampage in Bondi Junction

Hundreds of shoppers at Bondi Junction Westfield were forced to hide amid a terrifying stabbing attack on Saturday afternoon.

Consumer behaviour expert Gary Mortimer shared a screenshot from texts sent by his friend's young daughter who was at the shopping centre in Sydney's east.

'We're locked inside DJs (David Jones),' the girl said.

'All the shops closed their gates.'

The parent responded: 'please, please be safe'.

Major incident unfolding at Westfield Bondi Junction

By David Southwell

A major incident is unfolding at a major Sydney shopping centre, with reports of a stabbing and at least one gun man on the loose.

Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs is in lockdown after the incident on Saturday afternoon.

Panicked people were seen running across the pedestrian bridge outside the centre in video posted to social media while others said they were being evacuated from the centre's car park.

Police are attending the scene in massive numbers.

Eastern suburbs local Ted Helliar posted to X: 'Something just went down at Westfields Bondi junction.'

'We were up there and all of a sudden all these people running towards us. Next thing dozens and dozens of people all running a screaming some bloke yells 'someone is stabbing everyone get out of here'.'

Another X user said hundreds of shoppers were hiding in the back of the David Jones department store, which had pulled down its shutters with reports a man had been seen running with a gun in the centre.

A police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday afternoon that a major police operation is under way and officers were gathering details at the scene.

Key Updates

  • NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the attacker is believed to be a 40-year-old man

  • What we know so far about the Bondi Junction stabbing?

  • Sixth victim is identified as mother, 38, whose nine-month-old baby was also stabbed in terrifying attack

  • Heartbreaking image shows a young baby being stretchered into an ambulance after being stabbed

  • Eight patients including a nine-month-old baby are rushed to hospital

  • Hero bystander saves a baby after the infant and their mother were stabbed

  • Female police officer fatally shoots knifeman after terrifying shopping centre attack

  • Seven dead, including six innocent shoppers as police fatally shoot knifeman at Bondi Junction Westfield

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