A critical incident investigation is underway after six people were fatally stabbed and a man was shot by police in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs yesterday.
About 3.30pm (Saturday 13 April 2024), emergency services were called to Westfield Shopping Centre at Bondi Junction, following reports multiple people had been stabbed.
An officer attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended and was allegedly confronted by a man, armed with a knife.
The man allegedly lunged at the officer, before he was shot.
The man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he could not be revived and died at the scene. He has since been identified as 40-year-old Queensland man, Joel Cauchi.
Media reports have named a 30-year-old Pakistani national man who was working as a security guard, as one of the victims.
Four other people – all women believed to be aged between 20 and 55 – who were in the centre, died at the scene. They are yet to be formally identified.
Twelve others – nine women, two men and a 9-month-old child – suffering stab wounds, were treated by paramedics and taken to various Sydney hospitals.
A 38-year-old woman who was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition; has since died.
Police are aware that other people have also sought medical treatment for various injuries.
The shopping centre and surrounding streets remain closed, while the crime scene continues to be forensically examined.
A critical incident team comprised of detectives attached to the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and the Central Metropolitan Region have established Strike Force Mcauley to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The investigation will also be subject to an independent review.
As investigations under Strike Force Mcauley continue, any witnesses, anyone with information or mobile phone vision who has not yet spoken to police, is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
MySecurity Media sends its condolences to all involved. The actions of first responders, Security Officers and NSW Police and members of the public were truly courageous.
