Australian police reported that on Saturday, a knife-wielding attacker tore through a crowded Sydney retail center, killing five people and injuring numerous more, including a little kid.
The unidentified attacker attacked many individuals before being shot and killed at the scene by a policewoman.
The scene of the event was the expansive Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex, which was crowded with people on a Saturday afternoon.
“I’ve been informed that this offender’s actions have resulted in the deaths of five victims,” Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke of the New South Wales police stated.
Although the reason was not immediately apparent, Cooke stated that “terrorism” could not be completely ruled out at this time.
“At this point, I have no idea who he is. You would be aware of how uncooked this is. Cooke stated, “We are still working to identify the culprit in this case, but the inquiries are quite recent.
Eight victims, including a little kid who was brought to the city’s Children’s Hospital, were sent to different hospitals throughout Sydney, a New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson told AFP.
The official declared, “They all have traumatic injuries.”
Local media released security camera images of a man sprinting around the shopping center with a huge knife while donning an Australian rugby league jersey, and dead bodies on the floor.
Witnesses reported seeing people running for their lives while cops attempted to keep the situation under control.
In an effort to defend their family and themselves, a number of people sought sanctuary in stores.
“Screaming and running”
After work, Pranjul Bokaria went shopping, which is when the incident happened.
In the end, she fled to a nearby store and sought safety in the break room.
“It was scary, there are some people who were emotionally vulnerable and crying,” she stated to AFP.
Together with other customers and employees, she managed to flee by via an emergency exit that led to a side street.
She reported seeing “chaos” in the neighborhood, with people running and cops around.
“I am alive and appreciative,” she declared.
While traveling to the gym, Reece Colmenares noticed “people running and screaming” in her direction.
She told AFP that she and ten or twelve other individuals hurried into a nearby hardware store because she heard reports that someone had been stabbed.
“They took us down [to a room] and closed the shop,” she continued.
“It’s scary, there are little children and elderly and people in wheelchairs everywhere.”
When night fell, there were still a large number of police cars and ambulances outside the mall, preparing to transport victims to local hospitals on stretchers.
The air was filled with the sound of helicopters and police sirens.
Police have asked visitors to stay away from the area and have closed down the mall.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, expressed the nation’s sorrow and sadness over the attack.
He posted on social networking platform X, saying, “Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones,”
Australia has relatively low rates of violent crime, hence such attacks are practically unheard of there.
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