Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
NEW YORK, 14th April. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday said that Australians are with those affected and thanked the first responders.
According to the officials and media reports at least five people were killed in a stabbing attack at Westfield shopping center in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Bondi on Saturday.
The suspect has also been shot dead by the police.
According to Australian media reports, hundreds of people were evacuated after the attack. 8 people, including a child, were taken to hospital.
New South Wales Police urged people to avoid the area and said, “Inquiries are continuing in relation to the incident and there are no further details,” in a statement issued
New South Wales Police statement added that aA critical incident has commenced after the shooting of male at Bondi Junction just before 4pm (Saturday 13 April 2024), emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction after reports of multiple people stabbed”.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Australians are with those affected and thanked the first responders.
“I have been briefed by the AFP on the devastating events at Bondi Junction. Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones,” said Albanese.
“Our hearts go out to those injured and we offer our thanks to those caring for them as well as our brave police and first responders,” he added.
Media reported that a man entered a mall in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Saturday afternoon and began randomly shooting and stabbing people, local media reported.
“We didn’t really know where to go. We tried to go back in the other building but there were people running down that direction,” recounted Hannah Bodrozic, who was shopping in Country Road at the time. “Then we heard three gunshots and everyone just started screaming.”
In a swift response, heavily armed tactical operations police descended upon the scene “Heavily armed tactical operations police responded and shot a male offender,” as reported by media.
“Police responded to reports of multiple people stabbed at Bondi Westfield just before 4 pm,” reported authorities.
The eyewitness accounts paint a picture of pandemonium within the shopping centre as terrified shoppers scrambled for safety.
The sudden eruption of violence shattered the tranquility of the bustling retail hub, leaving scores of people traumatised and reeling from the ordeal.
“You’d never expect something like this in Sydney,” remarked Guy Johnston, who witnessed the chaos unfold, according to local media reports.
The sheer scale of the incident has prompted a massive law enforcement response, with officers from various commands converging on the scene to secure the area and launch a thorough investigation, media added.
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