Sydney: The man who fatally stabbed six folks in Sydney had psychological well being points previously and there was no indication ideology was a motive within the assault in one of many metropolis’s busiest purchasing centres, police stated on Sunday.

The attacker, recognized by police as Joel Cauchi, was identified to police within the neighbouring state of Queensland, and police have spoken to his household after Saturday’s assault, New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke instructed a press convention.

Witnesses described how Cauchi, sporting shorts and an Australian nationwide rugby league jersey, ran via the Westfield Bondi Junction mall with a knife, randomly attacking folks.

Some customers and workers on the mall in Sydney’s east tried to cease him and crowds sheltered in shuttered outlets.

“We have seen the footage of ordinary Australians putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens. That bravery was quite extraordinary,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on Sunday. “It’s the best of Australians amidst this tragedy.”

The 40-year-old assailant fatally knifed six folks and injured a minimum of 12 earlier than he was shot lifeless by Inspector Amy Scott, who confronted him solo whereas he was on the rampage.

“This was a terrible scene,” Cooke stated.

“There is still to this point, nothing that we have, no information we received, no evidence we have recovered or intelligence that we have gathered that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation, ideology or otherwise.”

Attacks such because the one on Saturday are uncommon in Australia, a rustic of about 26 million folks with a number of the world’s hardest gun and knife legal guidelines.

Cauchi had lately moved to Sydney. Police stated that they had searched a small storage facility he had lately rented however discovered no main proof to point an assault was coming.

Five of the six folks killed have been ladies, and the male sufferer was a purchasing centre safety guard, police stated.

Those taken to hospital with stab wounds included a nine-month-old child, who was in a critical however steady situation, police stated on Sunday. The child’s mom, Ashlee Good, died in hospital from her accidents, her household stated in an announcement.

There was a heavy police presence on Sunday on the mall, which was closed to customers, with close by streets closed off. A mound of floral tributes to the victims started to develop, with mourners arriving each couple of minutes.

“The individual stories of those who have been killed, the complete strangers rushing in to help as well as acts of courage and bravery mean that – whether you know the individuals who have been killed or not – you’re grieving today,” stated New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns.

“The entire state will get behind those families in the days ahead as they recover and go through the inevitable grief of such a horrifying event.”

Britain’s King Charles, who’s Australia’s head of state, posted on the royal household’s X account: “Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack.”