Six people killed, attacker shot dead in shopping centre stabbing attack

The sixth victim has been confirmed to be a 38-year-old mother who, along with her nine-month-old baby, was among those stabbed at the shopping centre. The nine-month-old child continues to be treated in hospital.

Police said a man walked into the centre at about 3.10pm before he returned 10 minutes later at 3.20pm and began stabbing people.

“It is clear that during that engagement he caused harm to those people, we believe, by stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said.

Police rushed to the scene after they received multiple calls from members of the public.

Video obtained by 9News appears to show a man wearing a rugby league jersey holding a knife as shoppers flee.

A female police officer was nearby at the time and was directed to the man by shoppers in the centre.

“She confronted the offender, who had moved by this stage to level five, as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him,” Cooke said.

“He turned, faced her, raised a knife, she discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.

“This all happened very, very quickly.

“The officer was in the near vicinity, attended on her own, was guided to the location of the offender by the people who were in the centre and she took the actions that she did saving a range of people’s lives.”

Preliminary enquiries suggest the attacker acted alone and police are satisfied “there is no continuing threat” to the public.

“I do not have information in relation to the offender, I do not know who he is,” Cooke said.

“You would understand this is quite raw, inquiries are very new and we are continuing to make attempts to identify the offender in this matter.”

Cooke said police were “not ruling anything out” in terms of a motive with the investigation in its early stages.

“There’s nothing that we’re aware of at the scene that would indicate any motive or any ideology,” he said.

Police have not confirmed the details of those killed or injured at this stage but Cooke confirmed one is a small child.

“I can not provide you with further information in relation to them,” he said.

“Only to say that very clearly, our hearts go out to all of them as they do anyone touched by this terrible incident this afternoon.”

Heavily armed police entered the centre as crowds of shoppers were ushered outside.

NSW Ambulance said the injured had been taken to various hospitals.

“Multiple ambulance crews have responded to the incident, including medical teams with doctors onboard,” it said in a statement.

“They have transported multiple patients to hospital, including two people to St Vincent’s Hospital, one person to Sydney Children’s Hospital, one patient to St George Hospital, one to Royal North Shore and two to Royal Prince Alfred.”

Another ambulance went to Prince of Wales Hospital.

Witnesses describe helping mother and baby

Two brothers have described how they helped a mother and her baby, both of whom had been stabbed.

“The baby got stabbed,” one of the men told 9News.

“The mum got stabbed and the mum came over with the baby and threw it at me and (I) was holding the baby.”

The man said he believed the baby would survive its injuries.

The husband of one of the injured told 9News he was relieved to see his wife at St Vincent’s Hospital.

“We didn’t know what had happened,” he said.

“She just got a little, they said, stab in the top right-hand corner of her back.

“She thought she got punched and then she touched herself and there was blood.

“But apart from that, she’s okay, she’s alive and that’s all that matters.”

The man said once he saw his wife, the “stress was over”.

READ ALL 9NEWS COVERAGE ON BONDI STABBING

“No one could tell you anything when we were there,” he said.

“It was terrible but she’s good now.”

Earlier, a grocery shop worker at the shopping centre told 9News he was let out of the shopping centre just after 4.30pm.

“My girlfriend called me, she said that her mum works upstairs, level three and she said, ‘Look, please be careful, there’s a shooting,'” he said.

“I couldn’t hear her well, so I came outside. I just started hearing a bunch of (shots).

“My reaction was to basically put all the customers inside (and) close the door of the shop.”

Prime Minister says shopping centre attack ‘horrific act of violence’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the attack which has killed six people at a Sydney shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon “beyond words or understanding.”

He said Australians will be “shocked” at the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction by a man with a knife, who was shot dead by a police officer just after 3pm.

“This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeted at innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping,” he said.

“The first thoughts of all Australians are with the victims of these terrible acts and their loved ones. 

“Our nation offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those who are grieving for someone they have lost and we send our strength to those who have been injured.”

He praised the health workers caring for the eight people – including a baby – who were rushed to hospital.

He also talked about shoppers who rushed to help those who had been injured.

“Today at Bondi Junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow Australians, our brave police, our first responders and of course, everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment,” he said.

“For these  Australians, their first instinct in the face of danger was to help someone else. That is what we hold on to tonight as Australians.”