Following Saturday's tragic attack at a shopping center in Sydney, police have confirmed that six victims lost their lives.
Chaos unfolded at the Westfield Bondi Junction Center just after 3:00PM on April 13, when a knifeman launched a seemingly random attack on members of the public.
The attacker's horrific actions claimed the lives of six people and left a dozen seriously injured - including a nine-month-old baby. His rampage came to an end after he was fatally shot by a lone police officer on the fifth level of the mall.
As the nation grapples in the aftermath of one of Australia's deadliest mass killings in recent history, several of the victims from Saturday's attack have been named and identified by loved ones.
Jade Young
Bellevue Hill mother-of-two, Jade Young, found herself in the midst of the Bondi Westfield attack, tragically losing her life. Described as a "much-loved" member of the Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club, Young's presence resonated deeply within her community.
Originating from the New South Wales region of Illawarra, her family described her as "a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human, and so much more".
The devastating loss was also felt by the Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club. "Many Club members will be affected by the loss of Jade, and the impact of this senseless and tragic event will affect each of us differently over time," the Club shared in an email to members. "We encourage you to seek support from family, friends, fellow Club members or to speak to your GP to assist you in processing this tragedy.
"We are here to support the community, and our heartfelt condolences go out to everyone affected."
Young worked as an architect working in the Double Bay area.
Faraz Tahir
Faraz Tahir, aged 30, was working at Bondi Westfield as a security guard, at the time of the attack.
Per News.com.au, Tahir had relocated to Australia just last year thanks to a program facilitated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He had been fleeing from persecution in his native Pakistan. A friend told The Sydney Morning Herald that Tahir "had so many hopes and dreams for his future".
Tahir had only worked a handful of shifts at the shopping center, and was reportedly on his first day shift when the attack unfolded.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to which Tahir belonged, has also remembered him as a cherished member, embodying kindness and selflessness.
"He quickly became an integral part of our community, known for his unwavering dedication and kindness," the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community shared in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Faraz’s family and loved ones during this difficult time, as well as with all the other victims and their families affected by this senseless act of violence. We extend our deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the broader community as we come together to support one another in the face of tragedy.
"We commend the swift response of the authorities and offer our full co-operation with the ongoing investigation. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting peace, unity, and understanding in our society."
Dawn Singleton
Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of prominent businessman John Singleton, was also killed in the attack.
A vibrant e-commerce assistant in her workplace at White Fox Boutique, the business wrote in a statement on Instagram: "We lost not only an employee of White Fox but someone special to us who felt like a family member," White Fox Boutique shared in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Singleton's friend has informed The Daily Telegraph that the 25-year-old was due to marry the love of her life this year, and had been shopping for makeup at the Chanel store when she was attacked.
"She only bought her wedding dress last week," the friend told the publication.
Taking to Facebook, another of Singleton's friends, Jade O’Connor, paid tribute, writing: "I should be writing your wedding speech Instead I sit here sobbing coming to terms with how life isn’t fair that you are no longer here."
"Dawn, you were my best friend, my absolute whole world," O'Connor's statement added. "You were kind and caring and the absolute best dog mom. You lit up every room you walked into."
Pikria Darchia
On Sunday (April 14), police confirmed that 55-year-old Pikria Darchia has been identified as another victim who lost their life in the attacks.
Darchia, believed to be of Georgian descent, is reported to have moved to Australia in 2013.
Prior to her relocation, her LinkedIn profile indicates that she held the position of senior designer at Pontolac in Georgia until the year 2013. Following this, she pursued further studies at Sydney's City East Community College and TAFE NSW.
Ashlee Good
Ashlee Good, 38, had been shopping at the mall with her nine-month-old baby when she became the first to be targeted by the assailant, per The Telegraph.
Witnesses say she bravely fought to shield her child from the attack, and eventually ran to two brothers and entrusted the strangers to help save her child.
The pair attempted to stem the mother and baby's injuries with clothing from the racks. Sadly, after being transported to a nearby hospital, the mother succumbed to her injuries.
"Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all round outstanding human and so much more,’" Good's family said in a statement.
"Our baby is currently doing well," the family said, before thanking emergency services and the two brothers who valiantly battled to save the mother and child.
"To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not – words cannot express our gratitude. We are struggling to come to terms with what has occurred. We would appreciate peace and privacy while we work through this as a family," the Good family said.
What We Know About The Attacks So Far
Incident Details: As a result of Saturday's horrifying stabbing rampage in Sydney, it has been confirmed that six victims have lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries.
The incident took place just after 3:00PM on Saturday afternoon at the busy Westfield's Bondi Junction mall, with police and first responders being dispatched at around 3:30PM. Eyewitnesses have recounted scenes of chaos and terror as shoppers fled the violent attack, seeking refuge in nearby stores to escape the assailant's onslaught. Others have stated how the assailant appeared to be targeting people at random.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed profound shock and disbelief at the senseless attacks, describing the incident as "beyond words and understanding".
A motive for the attack is still unknown, but authorities have stated that the knifeman was "acting alone" and that it is not deemed to be a "terror-related" incident.
Casualties: According to New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb, the initial death toll from the attack included the tragic deaths of four women and one man at the shopping mall. Another woman later succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
Local reports currently state that a mom-of-two, the daughter of a millionaire businessman, a security guard, and a new mom are among those who were killed in the attacks.
Additionally, eight more individuals are currently receiving treatment for various injuries sustained during the rampage at hospitals across Sydney. Among the injured is a nine-month-old baby who underwent surgery, as confirmed by Webb.
Suspect and Police Response: Law enforcement officials have now named the suspect as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi.
Anthony Cooke, the assistant commissioner of New South Wales Police has told reporters: "We are continuing to work through the profiling of the offender but very clearly to us at this stage it would appear that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved."
The heroic actions of a female police inspector on the scene, who swiftly neutralized the assailant when he raised his knife in her direction, have been widely praised. Cooke informed reporters of the moment the officer approached the assailant.
"[The officer] confronted the offender who had moved, by this stage, to level five," Cooke said. "As she continued to walk quickly behind to catch up with him he turned to face her, raised a knife, she discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased."
Prime Minister Albanese commended the officer's bravery, saying: "She is certainly a hero. There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action."
A Rare Attack For Australia: The shocking attack has left Australia shaken, a nation where mass casualty events are exceedingly rare.
The incident is a poignant reminder of the nation's scattered but tragic history of violence, with comparisons drawn to past atrocities such as the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 35 lives, and the 2019 mass shooting in Darwin that resulted in multiple fatalities. The rarity of such incidents underscores the gravity of the tragedy and the profound impact it has had on the Australian community.
Our thoughts continue to go out to the victims' loved ones and the people of Sydney at this time.
