Bondi Junction monster Joel Cauchi had one goal – find women and kill them

Mass-murderer Joel Cauchi walked into the Bondi Junction shopping centre with a knife and one target in mind – women.

Mass-murderer Joel Cauchi walked into the Bondi Junction shopping centre with a knife and one target in mind – women.

The 40-year-old former teaching student left six people dead in his stabbing rampage that began about 3.20pm on Saturday outside a cafe on level four of the Westfield complex.

It ended some 15 minutes later when he was shot dead by Inspector Amy Scott, who had been attending a separate job nearby when she heard about the attack, and, with no concern for her own safety, heroically ran towards danger.

Cauchi’s victims included Ash Good, a mother whose nine-month-old daughter was slashed next to her; Dawn Singleton, the daughter of millionaire businessman and racing identity John Singleton; eastern suburbs mother of two Jade Young; 55-year-old Bondi Junction woman Pikria Darchia; as well as Westfield security guard and Pakistani refugee Faraz Tahir.

A police source said that, having viewed extensive footage of Cauchi’s movements throughout the shopping centre, investigators believe he was “definitely targeting women”.

Five of the six victims have been identified: (from left) Pikria Darchia, Jade Young, Ash Good, Dawn Singleton and Faraz Tahir.

“I don’t think there’s any other way to look at it,” the source said. “You can see on the footage he walks past other people. He just keeps moving past them and then attacks a woman.”

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said on Sunday that whether Cauchi had targeted women was “an obvious line of inquiry”.

Joel Cauchi was advertising his services as an escort months before the stabbing rampage.

The revelations come as Cauchi’s family broke their silence, saying they were “devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney” and the police officer who shot their son was simply “doing her job”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time,” they said in a statement.

“Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened.

“He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.

“We are in contact with both the NSW Police Force and Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the police officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and we hope that she is coping all right.”

Joel Cauchi killed six people in the horror stabbing attack.

Cauchi had moved to NSW from Queensland.

Paying tribute to the victims, Premier Chris Minns, who had just returned from Tokyo, described Inspector Scott as a “hero”, suggesting she should be awarded for her bravery.

“I’m sure there’s many committees to run through before someone is actually given a hero award or bravery award, but this is outstanding courage and bravery under incredibly difficult circumstances,” he said.

“Her actions yesterday saved many, many lives.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns lay flowers at the tribute area at Bondi Junction for the victims of Saturday’s stabbing attacks. Picture: Damian Shaw

A source said most of the victims had no idea they were in danger until it was too late.

“Most of them didn’t even see him coming, and they were so quick, the attacks,” they said.

Police believe Cauchi had been in Sydney for the past couple of years, with officers having several interactions — including in June 2023, when he was stopped by officers in The Rocks who believed he was acting suspiciously.

Cauchi was searched and then let go, with officers having no reason to detain him.

In one of his earliest Facebook posts after moving to Sydney from Brisbane, he posted in Beginner Surfing & Adventuring (Sydney AU) about learning how to surf.

“Hi, I have a bodyboard and am wanting to learn how to use a surfboard and am trying to find someone to do a learning exchange just for a bit after surfing together doing some surfing around Sydney!” Cauchi wrote.

In recent months, he had also posted about other hobbies, including learning a second language — Swedish.

Joel Cauchi’s profile on Escorts Australia.

Cauchi was advertising his services online as an escort after arriving in Sydney, with a profile on Escorts Australia listing his physical characteristics as well as what he offered.

“I am an athletic, good looking 39 year old guy,” the profile said. “Let me gently massage all of your body … I can do romantic or anything you desire.”

NSW Police said Cauchi’s time in NSW since moving from Queensland earlier in the year would be probed as part of the investigation into the killing spree.

Cauchi had suffered from mental health issues from the age of 17, and he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Queensland Police had interacted with him on numerous occasions over the past decade, including for several domestic incidents involving his family.

But in recent years he had become estranged from his relatives and spent more time in NSW.

Cauchi’s family in Queensland was watching the horror vision unfold inside the shopping centre when they recognised him as the attacker and called local police.

“The family, when they viewed footage of the event on TV, believed that may well have been their son, and they reached out to authorities,” Assistant Com­m­issioner Roger Lowe, of the Queensland Police Service, said.

“Equally, they have sent a message to the NSW Police with respect to support of the police officer who has killed their son and expressing their concerns for her welfare.

“The man has never been arrested by police in Queensland or charged with any criminal offence or had any domestic violence order against him. Police have primarily had contact with this individual over the last four to five … we are aware this individual has suffered with mental health (issues).”

A woman who once dated Cauchi after meeting him online in 2022 said she was shocked by the news.

“He was sweet and kind and wanted to be a teacher,” she said.

“He took me to lunch and we spent a day at the Japanese garden. I never noticed anything wrong with him.”

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