Sydney Mall Stabbings: 6 Killed, Attacker Shot Dead, Police Report

The motive behind the attack in Australia, where multiple people were stabbed, was not immediately clear. New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb reported that five women and one man had died, with a baby undergoing emergency surgery.

The unidentified assailant, believed to be a 40-year-old man known to law enforcement, was tracked down and shot dead by a policewoman. However, he has not been formally identified yet.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by the assailant acting alone, and the commissioner mentioned that it was not considered a terrorism incident if the individual identified is the one they have in mind. Following the incident, eight patients were taken to various hospitals across Sydney, including the infant, who was taken to the city’s Children’s Hospital.

An eyewitness, Ayush Singh, described the harrowing scene, stating he saw people running and the perpetrator with a knife. Singh also helped two elderly women seek safety in his cafe.

The sound of gunshots and witnessing the aftermath left him deeply disturbed, shattering his previous feeling of safety. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the bravery of strangers who helped each other, as well as the policewoman who intervened and undoubtedly saved lives.

Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with people running and police swarming the area. The attack has led to a sense of fear and vulnerability among the locals, with the mall being locked down and the police urging people to avoid the area.

Such attacks are rare in Australia, a country known for its relatively low rates of violent crime.