Six people dead in stabbings at Sydney mall, police say attacker was shot dead.

The motive behind the incident was not immediately clear. According to Australian police, multiple people were stabbed by an unidentified assailant. The attacker was eventually tracked down and shot dead by a policewoman, who is being hailed as a national hero. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb announced that five women and one man had died, and a baby was undergoing emergency surgery.

The attacker is believed to be a 40-year-old man known to law enforcement, although he has not been formally identified. Webb played down suggestions that the attack could have been an act of terrorism and stated it is believed the attacker acted alone. A New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson reported that eight patients were taken to various hospitals across Sydney, including the baby who was taken to the city’s Children’s Hospital. The injured lay lifeless on the floor, and pools of blood surrounded them.

Ayush Singh, who was working at a cafe nearby, witnessed the incident. He saw people running and the assailant brandishing a knife. Singh helped two elderly women hide inside his cafe and heard three gunshots before seeing the assailant lying on the ground. “It was really scary,” he said.

“I’ve felt really safe (in Australia). I’ve been here for six years. I didn’t feel unsafe but now I feel scared.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the bravery of the strangers who helped each other and the woman police inspector who acted heroically.

He acknowledged the fear and emotional vulnerability of the people involved, describing the scene as chaotic. The city was filled with the sound of police sirens and helicopters as the area was locked down, and people were urged to avoid the area. In Australia, such attacks are virtually unheard of, as the country has relatively low rates of violent crime.