Today's Edition
SYDNEY (WAM)
An attacker who fatally knifed five people in a Sydney mall was shot dead by police in Sydney's beachside suburb of Bondi on Saturday, police said, as hundreds fled the scene.
The assailant was shot by a police officer after he engaged with nine people in the busy Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre, police said, according to Reuters.
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."
Australia has some of the world's toughest gun and knife laws, and attacks such as the one on Saturday are rare.
Emergency services were called to the mall just before 4 p.m. (0600 GMT) after the stabbing reports, police said.
Eight people, including a child, had been taken to hospital, said a New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson.
Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.
