Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing – mall to reopen on Friday
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. Twelve people were taken to hospital for their injuries – including a baby girl who was stabbed. Two people remain in intensive care.
There’ll be heightened security at the mall, with more police and mall security on site, according to Secentre Group – which operates Westfield malls in Australia and New Zealand.
The mall will open on Thursday for a “community reflection day” to allow people to pay their respects.
Counselling services will be made available on-site.
“It is a day of remembrance and to pay our respects to what has happened here, and the victims of the tragedy that happened here,” said Elliott Rusanow, chief executive officer of the Scentre Group.
“It is a recognition that things don’t return back to normal immediately.” Some retailers will choose not to reopen on Friday, he said. “It will be their choice when they do so,” he said.
The victims of the attack were Pikria Darchia, 55; Ashlee Good, 38; Faraz Tahir, 30; Dawn Singleton, 25; Jade Young, 47; and Yixuan Cheng, who is believed to be in her 20s.
Attacker Joel Cauchi was shot dead by a police officer at the scene.
Mass killings are rare in Australia and the attack has horrified the nation.
Investigations are underway but police have already ruled out terrorism and are pointing to mental health as the driving factor in the killing.
Australia shopping mall attack – video
📹📸 A knife attack took place in a shopping mall in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Sydney, Australia.
— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) April 13, 2024
It is reported that there are dead and injured people.
A civilian was seen intervening against an attacker.
📹 @AnnoymousGiraf pic.twitter.com/Hojc8Jj5ec
Joel Cauchi Australia – ‘To you he is a monster’
The attacker’s father, Andrew Cauchi, told reporters his son had battled with mental illnesses and recently came off his medication.
“To you he is a monster. To me, he was a very sick boy,” he said, in a video posted by The Australian newspaper.
“He wanted a girlfriend and he’s got no social skills and he was frustrated out of his brain,” he added, when asked about why his son may have targeted women.