Joel Cauchi, 40, has been identified as the man caught on camera wearing a rugby league jersey and wielding a knife in the Westfield at Bondi Junction yesterday afternoon.
Four women and one man died at the scene, with another woman, 38-year-old mum Ash Good, dying later in hospital.
Twelve others were taken to hospital, including Good’s nine-month-old daughter.
Cauchi was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who entered the shopping centre alone after getting the call.
This morning, police said Cauchi had moved down to NSW from Queensland last month.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said police had spoken with Cauchi’s family, who were cooperating with investigators.
“We know that shortly after coming to Sydney, (Cauchi) took possession of a storage facility that has been identified and we have worked through that very small storage facility,” Cooke said.
“As I had said last night, there is still to this point nothing that we have, no information we have received, no evidence we have recovered, no intelligence we have gathered, that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation, ideology or otherwise.”
Cooke said Cauchi had suffered from mental health issues, and it “very clearly” appeared that the attack was linked to his mental state.
Cauchi was known to Queensland Police, who are assisting with the ongoing investigation.
- Six people have been killed in a mass stabbing attack at Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
- The man, identified as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott at the scene. Police do not believe he acted “with ideation”.
- Twelve people were taken to hospital, though police said others may have presented independently with minor injuries.
- A baby and a mother were among those stabbed. The mother, 38-year-old Ash Good, has since died of her injuries. The baby continues to receive treatment.
- Mobile phone footage shows crowds within stairwells, with other shoppers saying they were evacuated to the roof
- Shoppers helped victims as others cowered in shops for up to two hours.
- The attacker acted alone and there is no ongoing threat.
- The shopping centre will remain closed on Sunday as police work through the crime scene.
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