Five people have been confirmed dead after a man wielding a knife went on a stabbing rampage inside the Westfield shopping centre in Sydney’s Bondi Junction, before he was shot dead by police.
Images from inside the centre show a man walking up an escalator brandishing the knife.
Other footage showed the man chasing down shoppers as they desperately tried to flee.
One man was seen trying to fend off the man with a bollard.
Multiple other people were rushed to hospital after being seriously injured.
During a news conference, police said the suspect “engaged with about nine people” as he moved through the centre.
“It is clear that during that engagement, he caused harm to those people, we believe by stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying,” Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said.
Offender shot dead
“A number people are in serious and or critical conditions at this stage including a small child.”
The Australian Prime Minister says “hearts go out to those injured” and offered his thanks to the first responders.
New South Wales Ambulance told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the baby was one of seven people who had been stabbed at the Westfield shopping centre.
Australia police believe the offender acted alone.
The man was shot dead by a female police officer.
When asked by a journalist about whether there were any suspected motivations in the attack, Cooke said they are still investigating, but didn’t rule out terrorism.
