NSW’s top cop says officers are investigating whether women were targeted by a man who embarked on a horrific stabbing spree at a Sydney shopping centre yesterday.
Five of the six victims who died in the mass murder at Bondi Junction Westfield about 3.20pm on Saturday were women, including 38-year-old mother Ash Good whose baby daughter was also stabbed.
Health Minister Ryan Park said 12 people remain in hospital, including the nine-month-old child, with several said to be in a critical condition.
The knifeman, identified as Queensland man Joel Cauchi, was shot dead by a lone female police officer at the scene.
Yasmin Catley, the NSW Police Minister, has confirmed the man was from Queensland and was not “well known” to local authorities.
NSW Police confirmed on Sunday that of the 18 people stabbed, 14 of them were women.
Nine women and Ms Good’s young child remained in hospital.
Commissioner Karen Webb was asked on Sunday whether it was believed Cauchi had targeted women during the attack.
“That’s been reported to me as well, and obviously that will be an obvious line of inquiry,” she said
“And that’s concerning, but that will form an obvious part of the investigation.
“I mean, anyone seeing that footage can see that for themselves.”
It remains unclear what motivated the attack that has shocked Australia and the world but the current death toll has led some to ask why so many women were killed.
Video footage from the scene shows the man holding a large knife and wearing an Australian rugby league jersey chasing some men before letting them go.
He also appears to ignore a man who bravely turns to confront him before jogging past the shopper.
Today show host Karl Stefanovic this morning said he had “no words” for his thoughts about the incident but expressed his disgust at the number of female victims.
“I don’t care what the excuses are, and I hope there’s a special place in hell reserved for him, given the fact that he walked past men, and didn’t do anything about it and attacked women,” he said.
“A woman with a baby.”
Similar sentiments have been shared online with one women posting on X, about the number of female killed.
“Can it be true the Bondi attack was aimed at women? Five women, dead?” she wrote.
“I am grieving male violence today. I cannot say oh my god, because I have refuse gods. But the anger, is rising.”
Another said: “This Bondi Junction stabber appears to have targeted WOMEN.”
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott has been hailed as a hero after shooting the armed man dead on level five of the centre after being the first police officer on the scene.
“She was put in a situation where she had to do it. She did it so calmly. She was amazing,” cafe owner Michael Dunkley told news.com.au.
Police believe the lone wolf attacker was a 40-year-old men known to them, with Commissioner Webb saying it’s not though he held any terrorist “ideations”.
On Nine’s Today Show on Sunday, terror expert Greg Barton said extremist groups would usually have posted online about the incident beforehand to flag an impending attack.
Mr Barton also said the death of several women was “one of the ugliest aspects” of the “incredible tragedy”.
“I think it is important that Police say they’re going to take their time, do the investigative work, and let us know what they understand about motivation,” he said.
“Of course, the biggest threat we face in Australia from violence day to day is domestic violence. Whether that’s involved here or not is a question.
“But yes, the callous attacking of a mother and a child and other women is awful.”
Security expert Scott Taylor spoke on Sunrise today about why the 40-year-old man might have chosen not to engage with some potential victims who were in close vicinity.
“Part of that is likely going to be because of the weakest, or the easiest type of victims sadly,” he said.
“And you saw from the gentleman that was on the escalator, as soon as there was an element of deterrent, he didn’t want to progress. The man with the lady and children behind him, there was still no engagement there.
“Sadly it’s people with moral compass not aligned with ours, they go for people who they believe can be less challenged.”
Bondi Rescue lifeguard Andrew Reid was at the shopping centre and helped provide first aid to some of the victims.
This morning he spoke about his grief at Ms Good’s death, “a beautiful person” who he knew personally, who’s life had been taken by a “scumbag”.
“She just wanted to be a mum, you know? She just wanted to be. And she was a beautiful person. And she would have been an amazing mum,” he said.
“I don’t know how that father, deals with what he’s got on his plate, this morning, losing his wife, and having a nine month old fighting for life.”
Mr Reid also recalled and the devastating scene he came upon.
“So the first victim was a young woman, sort of 30 to 40. And then the next victim I looked over, she was probably a little bit older, 40 to 50, maybe, but she was she was in a bad way,” he said.
“She and the police were trying to, like, work on her, but oh my God, I’ve never … I’ve never seen that much blood.”
Mr Reid said he and the other first responders were just “doing what we know” and others should be praised for their heroic actions.
“But, you know, for me, some of the real heroes are the Police officer woman that brought him down, the guy with the bollard.
“Like, are you kidding me? Like he kept him at bay. You know, that would have given time for more Police to get there, for more people to get out of there.
“Like he’s an absolute legend.”
Police will provide an update on its ongoing investigation at 8am today.
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Ms Webb last night said there was not believed to be any ongoing threat to the public.
“Let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased,” Ms Webb said.
“The investigation will be ongoing for many, many days but there are elements that we understand at this point in time that don’t indicate (a terrorist attack), but as we move into the investigation, and background this person, his home, vehicle, associates, we will only know at that time.”
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