The horrific incident of stabbing spree in Sydney has sent shock waves across Australia. The suspect, shot dead by the police, involved in the stabbing--that claimed six lives and left eight severely injured, was identified as a 40-year-old man. According to New South Wales Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, he was known to the police.
While ruling out terrorism, Webb said "If it is the person we believe it is, we don't have fear for that person holding an ideation." "In other words, that it's not a terrorism incident...We believe that this person acted alone and there's no ongoing threat to the community" she added.
The police said that they would only confirm the identity of the suspect after thorough verification.
“The motive is still unclear,” said the police.
Witnesses and shoppers in the mall recall the chaos and shock of the incident. The man was seen holding a "large blade" and going on to attack random people.
"He was walking like he was having an ice cream in the park," a witness told ABC News.
According to police five women and a man died at the scene and the rest injured were taken to the nearby hospital. Among the eight injured also include a nine-month-old baby. Reportedly, the mother of the baby died after being taken to the hospital.
Several witnesses recall seeing a woman lying on the floor of the Chanel shop covered in blood. Shoppers were running to the exit doors and hiding in the mall while the suspect attacked people.
"She was getting stabbed. Everyone was in shock and didn't know what to do," a witness was quoted by BBC. "Other shoppers were using clothing and other things....to stop the bleeding."
It was a police official on duty who put an end to the stabbings by shooting the suspect dead.
Three shots were fired by a woman cop, who had been on duty for an unrelated reason, at the attacker. “He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased,” said assistant police commissioner, Anthony Cooke.
Since the 2017 Bourke Street attack, where James Gargasoulas mowed down and killed six people in a car at a busy public shopping strip, this is the first shocking incident that shook the nation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was "beyond words or understanding".
"This was a horrific act of violence indiscriminately targeted at the innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday, doing their shopping," he said.
Albanese praised the officer as a "hero". "There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action,” Albanese said in Canberra on Saturday evening. "And it is a reminder that those people who wear uniform are people who rush to danger, not away from it," he added.
Webb said that the shopping centre would be closed on Sunday for further investigation. She also added that a thorough investigation will take place on the incident.
