Bondi Junction stabbing as it happened: Multiple dead, injured in Sydney’s eastern suburbs; PM, NSW Police Commissioner speak

What happened in Bondi Junction? A man murdered six people by stabbing them with a knife inside Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday afternoon. The attacker was shot dead by police.

How did it start? Police say CCTV footage shows the attacker walked into Bondi Junction Westfield about 3.20pm and “engaged with” nine people as he moved through, “causing harm”.

Who has been harmed? Six people are confirmed dead, plus the attacker. NSW Ambulance said they took eight patients to various hospitals. A nine-month-old baby was among the injured.

Who was the attacker? NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said he was a 40-year-old who was known to police but not believed to have held terrorist beliefs. He has not been formally identified. Police are confident he acted alone.

What happens next? Police have promised a “lengthy and precise” investigation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has discussed the incident with AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw and the director-general of ASIO, Mike Burgess.

That’s where we’ll leave tonight’s coverage of the awful events at Bondi Junction.

We’ll be back first thing on Sunday morning to continue our coverage.

To recap, six victims are dead and others are fighting for their lives after a lone attacker went on a violent stabbing spree at the Westfield shopping centre on Saturday afternoon.

The attacker is also dead after the killing spree ended when a female police officer, a high-ranking inspector, searched the centre on her own and, with help from onlookers, found the man on the fifth floor. There, she shot him as he turned on her.

A victim is treated following the attack.Credit: Oscar Colman/The Sydney Morning Herald

A mother and her nine-month-old baby were among those attacked by the as-yet unidentified man, who wandered the centre with a knife in his hand, striking out at shoppers.

Witnesses said the brave mother, 38, tried to save her baby after they were both stabbed, handing her daughter to two shoppers and begging them to help after she was critically injured.

She died later in hospital.

Witnesses said the attacker appeared to choose his victims at random. Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police did not believe the attack was terror-related.

You can read our full overnight report here.

Note that crisis support is available from Lifeline for anyone affected by the terrible events in Bondi. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

NSW Acting Premier Penny Sharpe and Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos have also said special support would be offered to those affected by this tragedy. We will publish information about those services when it comes to hand.

King Charles has issued a statement following the Bondi Junction attack.

“My wife and I were utterly shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic stabbing incident in Bondi,” he writes.

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack.

“While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services.”

We posted condolences a little earlier from the Prince and Princess of Wales (10.21pm). This tragedy is resonating around the world – it’s leading news bulletins across the UK and in Europe.

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos has just been interviewed live on Sky News UK.

She paid tribute to the “everyday heroes” who ran towards the danger to protect each other and to help other people during the Bondi Junction attack.

“It shows you what an incredible community we are here in Waverley,” she said, paying particular tribute to the lone police officer who approached and shot the attacker, as well as to a man who confronted the attacker on the shopping centre’s escalators.

One man confronted the Bondi Junction attacker on the shopping centre’s escalators.Credit:

“These demonstrations of heroism are truly awe-inspiring,” Masselos said.

“She (the police officer) was there on her own and she went towards the danger. Even [after she shot the attacker], she immediately began applying CPR – that just shows you the dedication of the person and her incredible act of heroism – even then her main concern was for someone who had fallen.”

Masselos said that when you went out shopping, “you expect to go home to your family and six people tonight won’t be tonight,” adding that the Bondi Junction shopping centre wasn’t just a place to shop but also a local meeting point for many young people.

“I will be reaching out to the various service providers and to the police to see what practical support we can offer as a council,” she said.

“This isn’t something that is part of our experience at all – it’s left a lot of people in shock and disbelief. It’s so senseless. If nothing else, though, Commissioner Webb’s comments tonight have given some solace – it appears this man is known to the police and doesn’t appear to have any kind of religious ideology … and that he acted alone. Police believe there is no ongoing risk.”

A reminder that as the shopping centre was put into lockdown and shoppers were told to leave or shield in shops, a police officer ran towards the danger, on her own and without immediate backup.

Here is what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said earlier about the police officer’s bravery, and that of other first responders.

It was just one act of bravery reported in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Video also emerged of a man trying to hold off the attacker on the shopping centre’s escalators.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, have sent their condolences, saying they are “shocked and saddened” by the events in Sydney.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others,” they posted to X.

Acting Premier Penny Sharpe is speaking tonight from Waverley Police Station following today’s mass killing at Bondi Junction.

She said medical staff were working around the clock to try to save the lives of at least eight people injured in the Bondi stabbing spree.

Acting Premier Penny Sharpe and Yasmin Catley, Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism, speaking a short time ago.Credit: Louise Kennerley

“Tonight, I convened the crisis cabinet with a range of ministers, said Sharpe, adding that Premier Chris Minns was also in the briefing from the airport in Tokyo, where he had been on a family break.

“The cabinet has received briefings from the police and NSW Health. We hold in our hearts the families and the friends and those who have lost loved ones with those who are waiting to hear [about] those that have been injured, and we stand by all the medical staff who are fighting to save their lives.

“Tonight I want to say on behalf of the NSW government that we will stand with you, that we will provide the support that you need these coming days and weeks.

“This is a horrific and distressing event for all of the people of NSW. We are all focused on this one thing and that’s supporting the NSW community through these horrific events,” she says, adding that support will be provided for first responders and the community.

“All we need to know is that six innocent people have lost their lives and that there are eight others fighting for their lives in hospital,” she says.

“Tonight we have to have our thoughts with those who have lost loved ones and really stand by those who are fighting for their lives.

“This beyond distressing, this is not who we are – this is not the community that we’re living in.

“I’m personally distressed by this as I’m sure everyone is. We now have to live with the serious consequences of what’s happened today.”

New South Wales Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley has also confirmed that the six victims killed were five women and a man. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said earlier that five died onsite, while one woman died later in hospital.

Premier Chris Minns, who flew to Tokyo on Saturday with his family on his first day of two weeks’ leave, will return to Sydney immediately following the Bondi Junction mass murder.

From Japan, he joined a cabinet crisis meeting with other ministers, police and senior health bureaucrats, and spoke to 2GB radio about what he called a “truly shocking day” in NSW history.

“It’s literally everyone’s worst nightmare. An afternoon with family or friends at a shopping centre being displaced with a wicked and a violent crime. I feel terrible for those that have gone through so much heartache this afternoon,” Minns said.

The streets of Bondi Junction in lockdown following the attack. Credit: Oscar Colman

“Many, many families would be grieving this evening, and it’s a truly shocking day in the state’s history.

“I can understand that people will be grieving and very angry for the next few days but we will recover, we’ll be strong.”

Minns said that amid a violent crime, the state had witnessed “exemplary courage” from members of the public who confronted the attacker, and the police inspector who shot him dead.

“It’s not too early to say she saved lives today with enormous courage,” Minns said.

“I want her to know she’s got eight million people in this state who are deeply deeply grateful for her actions today. Thank god she was on the scene.”

A baby and its mother were among those attacked by the unidentified man, who wandered the centre with a knife in his hand and struck at shoppers.

The mother died later in hospital. Witnesses said he appeared to choose his victims at random.

It is the state’s worst mass killing since the Quakers Hill Nursing Home Fire in 2011, when 11 people died in an arson attack.

The owner and manager of the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction, Scentre Group, has released a short statement, praising police and passing on condolences to victims and the families of the deceased.

“Scentre Group extends its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those impacted by today’s tragedy at Westfield Bondi,” chief executive Elliott Rusanow said.

“We extend our deep appreciation for the swift and brave action of our team and first responders.

“Our team continues to provide full assistance to the NSW emergency services response.”

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the six victims killed in the Bondi Junction Westfield attack were five women and a man. Five died onsite, while one woman died later in hospital.

The attacker has been identified as a 40-year-old man known to law enforcement, though police are waiting to formally identify him.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb speaking to the media after a man fatally stabbed multiple people at Westfield Bondi Junction.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

He is believed to have acted alone.

“If he is the person that we believe, then we don’t have fears of that person holding an ideation. In other words, it’s not a terrorism incident,” Webb said.

She said it was too early to comment on his psychological state.

Webb commended both the female police officer who shot the 40-year-old, along with shop keepers who assisted keeping people safe.

“The police officer that attended is enormously courageous, as were other police officers that have attended that area,” Webb said.

The female officer is a “very senior” inspector of police who was conducting routine checks on hospitality venues nearby. She was alone and responded quickly, firing three shots which killed the attacker.

The officer has requested not to be named for the time being. Westfield shopping centre will remain closed tomorrow.