A senior feminine police officer has been hailed a hero after taking down the attacker chargeable for the mass stabbing incident at Westfield Mall at Bondi Junction, Sydney.
In keeping with Australian information web site Information.com.au, the officer was close by on the time of the incident which unfolded at 3:20pm on Apr. 13, 2024.
She determined to tackle the suspect alone and stalked him by the mall earlier than gunning him down and placing an finish to the assault.
The suspect was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
“She was put in a scenario the place she needed to do it”
A café proprietor on the mall, Michael Dunkley, witnessed the second the officer took down the suspect.
He mentioned that the officer instructed the suspect to “drop the knife” earlier than he lunged at her with a knife about 15-cm lengthy.
A New South Wales Police’s Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke mentioned that the feminine officer proceeded to shoot the offender when he lunged at her with a knife, CNN reported.
“She discharged her firearm, and that particular person (the assailant) is now deceased,” Cooke mentioned.
“She was put in a scenario the place she needed to do it. She did it so calmly. She was wonderful,” Dunkley mentioned, as quoted by Information.
A video uploaded to X (previously Twitter) purportedly reveals the aftermath after the officer took down the assailant.
One other Inside visuals..
Consumers evacuated after a suspected #stabbing and #firing on the #Westfield #Bondi Junction buying centre #Sydney #Australia…
Many Studies At the least 4-6 folks killed whereas many injured. #shooting #bondiattack #Westfield
Graphic Warning.. pic.twitter.com/ryswl1HJVD
— Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) April 13, 2024
The feminine senior officer additionally reportedly administered CPR to those that had been injured within the incident.
Injured a number of folks, six lifeless
The suspect injured a number of folks and killed no less than six.
5 folks have been pronounced lifeless on the scene whereas the sixth sufferer, a 38-year-old mom to a nine-month-old child, succumbed to her accidents within the hospital.
“She is definitely a hero”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the officer who shot down the attacker for exhibiting great bravery, in response to the Sydney Morning Herald.
He famous that she entered the damaging scenario by herself.
“The bravery of the police officer, she entered the proceedings that have been happening, clearly very harmful, by herself.
She is definitely a hero. There’s little doubt that she saved lives by her actions.
And it’s a reminder that these individuals who put on uniform are individuals who rushed to hazard, not away from it.
I give thanks to each one among them for the actions that they’ve taken thus far, and the actions that they may take over the approaching days which will probably be a tough interval as properly.”
Chorus from hypothesis
In the meantime, Albanese inspired folks to not speculate concerning the attacker’s motives this early into the police investigation.
He mentioned that such hypothesis can be unhelpful presently, including that the general public ought to permit the investigators to go about their work.
“We are going to in fact proceed to replace the Australian public, as extra data is thought,” Albanese mentioned.
Prime picture by way of @sirajnoorani/X and @DrewPavlou/X
