Cops confirm officers spoke to Joel Cauchi months before Bondi Junction attacks

The man responsible for Saturday’s mass stabbing had come into contact with police just months before his frenzied attack, Queensland authorities have confirmed.

Queensland Police have revealed the Queensland man responsible for the deaths of six people, and hospitalising 12 others, had been in contact with the state’s authorities just five months before Saturday’s attack.

Government agencies from Queensland will be co-operation with the investigation led by NSW Police to the circumstances into Joel Cauchi’s horrific stabbing spree at the Bondi Junction Westfield at 3.30pm on Saturday.

While Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe confirmed Cauchi, 40, had never been arrested, or charged by Queensland authorities, he said the man’s last contact with police was in December 2023 where he was street checked by police.

This refers to an “intelligence gathering report” where an officer might record someone displaying ”some kind of unusual behavior,” he said.

Commissioner Lowe also confirmed Cauchi said there were no domestic violence, or other orders placed against him.

The senior police officer also confirmed police had responded to an event in “early 2023” involving Cauchi and his family, however no charges were laid.

“That’ll form subjects of investigations but he’s never been charged with any offence relating to knife or being found in possession of knives in a manner that’s unlawful that would warrant prosecution,” he said.

Joel Cauchi went on a mass rampage at Sydney’s busy Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday night. Picture: Twitter

Commissioner Lowe also revealed Cauchi had been diagnosed with a mental illness at 17, however had “treatment over the years,” before his mental health seemingly declined in the last few years.

Records from Queensland Health said Cauchi last came into contact with the public health system “more than a decade ago,” but had his care “transferred to a psychiatrist in the private sector in 2012”.

“He has been in contact with the police, primarily in the last four to five years would be the most contact we’ve had with him,” he said.

“During that contact, we are aware that this individual has suffered from mental health.”

Queensland officers have been in contact with Cauchi’s family, who have been co-operating with police, however the family have said they were not in regular contact with the man.

Police said Cauchi was unemployed, and did not have a fixed address, and had lived in Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, Carrina, the Gold Coast and with his family in south Queensland before moving to Sydney.

“The last contact with the family was in March to my understanding,” said Commissioner Lowe.

“In terms of phone calls or texts, he would periodically text his mother with an update to where he was.”

Joel Cauchi has been named as the man responsible for the horror stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction. He was known to both Queensland and NSW Police.

Giving an update on Sunday morning, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed Queensland Police will continue to provide NSW Police with investigations. She said police in both NSW and Queensland were aware of him for “mental health related issues”.

She said NSW investigators might need information from several Queensland agencies, such as Queensland Health in order to obtain information.

“That will mean that we work with the Queensland government and other authorities in Queensland,” she said.

Minns: ‘Families gone through hell’

NSW Premier Chris Minns, who returned on Sunday from a family holiday in Japan, also said Queensland Premier Steven Miles had agreed to work cooperatively on the investigation.

“The premier of Queensland has made contact with me and opened up all the resources of the Queensland government for this investigation and it sounds like we’ll need it. So that’s very encouraging information,” he said.

Mr Minns said the attack had been horrifying and NSW was grieving.

“We’ll recover. It’s going to be a very difficult few days and those families no doubt have gone through hell, but there’s eight million people in this state that are behind them,” he said.

“Everybody’s grieving as a result of this and they’re not alone.”

He also paid credit to the “ordinary members of the public” for their instinctive bravery, as well as the actions of paramedics, doctors, and the hero cop NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who was the first officer on the scene and shot Cauchi when he attempted to attack her.

NSW Premier Chris Minns called on the state to ‘come together’ in the aftermath of the horrific attack. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Eight dedicated mental health support officers will be available for people in Bondi from about 2pm on Sunday, with NSW Health Minister Ryan Park urging people to use the services.

Staff will be uniformed and highly visible.

“There will be dedicated support officers in place we are boosting support on our mental health care line and we are providing mental health support to those frontline responders,” he said.

“I don’t want people to suffer as a result of this tragedy. These are traumatic scenes that would have people would have witnessed yesterday both outside the centre and inside the centre and please reach out.”

Ms Webb said police would remain at the large-scale crime scene for several days, “if not weeks”.

Police will continue their forensic investigation of the crime scene at Bondi Junction. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

As a result, Bondi Junction Westfield will remain closed over the next few days, however cars which were stranded in the parking lot during the initial investigation are gradually being moved out. She also confirmed a family liaison officer has been appointed to every family affected by the attack.

“So this will be an active investigation for many days and perhaps weeks while we identify not only the movement of the offender, not just yesterday, but the hours, the days the weeks, his life, leading up to yesterday and it will take some time to work with the families,” she said.