Sydney mall knife attacker who stabbed 6 people shot dead

Five of the six victims killed were women, while eight people, including a nine-month-old baby, were taken to hospital with stab wounds, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb told a press conference.

Police at this stage do not believe the attack was terror-related, Webb said.

Eight people, including a child, have been taken to hospital. (AP Photo)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was no indication yet of the man’s motive.

“This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeting innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping,” he told a press conference.

“Tonight the first thoughts of all Australians are with the victims of these terrible acts.”

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the shopping centre after the incident. (AP Photo)

Australia has some of the world’s toughest gun and knife laws, and attacks such as the one on Saturday are rare.

‘ON THE RAMPAGE’

Emergency services were called to the mall just before 4 p.m. (0600 GMT) after the stabbing reports, police said.

Ayush Singh, 25, was working in a cafe in the mall when he saw the attack and then heard gunshots as police responded.

“I saw the guy with the knife running and chasing people. As he walked just past beside me I heard two or three gunshots and the guy was neutralised,” he told Reuters.

“People around me were terrified. There were some old ladies I helped to get them inside a safe place inside the cafe.”

Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area. (AP)

Two other witnesses told Reuters they heard shots.

“Even 20 minutes after people were rushed out of the mall, I saw SWAT teams of people sweeping the surrounding streets,” one witness said.

The other said they saw a woman lying on the ground and took shelter in a jewellery store.

An eyewitness described the police officer shooting the attacker to state broadcaster ABC.

“If she did not shoot him, he would have kept going, he was on the rampage,” said the man, who did not give his name. “She went over and was giving him CPR. He had a nice big blade on him. He looked like he was on a killing spree.”

Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.

BREAKING:

Suspected terror attack in Sydney, Australia. Several people killed

Different reports coming in on whether it’s a stabbing or shooting attack.

People can be seen running inside the shopping mall in Bondi where the attack took place pic.twitter.com/q1kIBMTF6l

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) April 13, 2024

The mall will remain closed on Sunday while an investigation continues, police said.