Six dead following stabbing rampage at Westfield shopping center in Bondi

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By stefan armitage

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**UPDATE**

Tragically, the toll from Saturday's attack has risen, with the loss of a sixth stabbing victim in hospital.

This brings to total deaths to seven, including the attacker who was shot dead by police.

As the city of Sydney grapples with the aftermath, seven other victims continue to fight for their lives in hospitals across Sydney, with some in serious to critical conditions, including a young child.

ORIGINAL:

Six people have been confirmed dead following a stabbing rampage at a Sydney shopping center.

Per BBC News, the tragedy unfolded just after 3:00PM (local time) at the Westfield shopping center in Bondi.

Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke has confirmed in a press conference that a knifeman entered the mall and began to attack shoppers. No motive has been confirmed as of this writing, but police say terrorism has not been ruled out.

Cooke confirmed that five victims have died as a result of the rampage.

NSW police and ambulance vehicles line the streets outside Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

"I’m advised that there are five victims who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender," Cooke said.

CNN reports that multiple others were injured, with eight patients - including one child - being transported to hospitals across the city.

One witness told BBC News that they saw the knifeman attacking a woman holding a baby.

"She was getting stabbed. Everyone was in shock [and] didn't know what to do," the witness said, before revealing that the woman was able to run into a nearby store for safety. "Some of the other shoppers were using clothing and things to try and… stop the bleeding," he said. "The baby only had a minor wound, but the lady was pretty bad."

"There was a lot of blood and she was panicking," he added. "Hopefully she pulls through."

Members of the public look on outside Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

The knifeman was stopped by a single police officer, who delivered a fatal shot when she was allegedly approached by the assailant.

"[The officer] 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," Cooke told reporters. "He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased."

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has described the attack as "a horrific act of violence", before going on to praise the emergency services for their response.

Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

"All of us are thinking of the dedicated doctors, nurses and health care workers who will be working through the night to save lives and to care for their fellow Australians," Albanese said.

"Today Bondi Junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witnessed to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow Australians. Our police, our first responders, and of course everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment and some of the footage is quite extraordinary.

"Staff for whom there should have been a normal shift shoppers peacefully going about their lives. And yet for these Australians, their first instinct in the face of danger was to help someone else that is what we hold on to tonight."

Our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones and the people of Sydney at this time.

Featured image credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

Six dead following stabbing rampage at Westfield shopping center in Bondi

vt-author-image

By stefan armitage

Article saved!Article saved!
**UPDATE**

Tragically, the toll from Saturday's attack has risen, with the loss of a sixth stabbing victim in hospital.

This brings to total deaths to seven, including the attacker who was shot dead by police.

As the city of Sydney grapples with the aftermath, seven other victims continue to fight for their lives in hospitals across Sydney, with some in serious to critical conditions, including a young child.

ORIGINAL:

Six people have been confirmed dead following a stabbing rampage at a Sydney shopping center.

Per BBC News, the tragedy unfolded just after 3:00PM (local time) at the Westfield shopping center in Bondi.

Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke has confirmed in a press conference that a knifeman entered the mall and began to attack shoppers. No motive has been confirmed as of this writing, but police say terrorism has not been ruled out.

Cooke confirmed that five victims have died as a result of the rampage.

NSW police and ambulance vehicles line the streets outside Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

"I’m advised that there are five victims who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender," Cooke said.

CNN reports that multiple others were injured, with eight patients - including one child - being transported to hospitals across the city.

One witness told BBC News that they saw the knifeman attacking a woman holding a baby.

"She was getting stabbed. Everyone was in shock [and] didn't know what to do," the witness said, before revealing that the woman was able to run into a nearby store for safety. "Some of the other shoppers were using clothing and things to try and… stop the bleeding," he said. "The baby only had a minor wound, but the lady was pretty bad."

"There was a lot of blood and she was panicking," he added. "Hopefully she pulls through."

Members of the public look on outside Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

The knifeman was stopped by a single police officer, who delivered a fatal shot when she was allegedly approached by the assailant.

"[The officer] 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," Cooke told reporters. "He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased."

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has described the attack as "a horrific act of violence", before going on to praise the emergency services for their response.

Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty

"All of us are thinking of the dedicated doctors, nurses and health care workers who will be working through the night to save lives and to care for their fellow Australians," Albanese said.

"Today Bondi Junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witnessed to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow Australians. Our police, our first responders, and of course everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment and some of the footage is quite extraordinary.

"Staff for whom there should have been a normal shift shoppers peacefully going about their lives. And yet for these Australians, their first instinct in the face of danger was to help someone else that is what we hold on to tonight."

Our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones and the people of Sydney at this time.

Featured image credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty