Westfield Bondi Junction – the centre that was the scene of the deadly mass stabbing attack – will reopen to shoppers on Friday. Six people, five women and one man, were stabbed to death on Saturday. Two people remain in intensive care. There’ll be heightened security at the mall, with more police and mall security on site.

Monday’s Sydney church stabbing has been declared a religiously motivated “terrorist act” by Australian police. A bishop, a priest and churchgoers were attacked during mass at the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church. A 16-year-old boy has been arrested.

Joel Cauchi, 40 – the man who went on a stabbing attack in a Sydney shopping mall appears to have targeted women, police say. Cauchi attacked people at the busy Westfield Bondi Junction complex on Saturday. He stabbed and killed six people – five women and 1 man, with a long blade.

Joe Biden has said he is considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange – the founder of Wikileaks.

Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, has suggested the country could recognise Palestinian statehood, to increase momentum towards peace. However, Hamas could have no role in its governance, Wong said.

Australia’s leading television network has refuted claims that it engaged in the payment of sex workers and illegal substances to secure an interview with an alleged rapist. Former Seven Network producer Taylor Auerbach made the allegations while providing testimony in a defamation lawsuit.