Six people have been killed and an attacker has been shot dead after multiple people were stabbed at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney’s east.
As police and paramedics rushed to the scene this afternoon, a lone police officer who was nearby at the time was guided by shoppers to the man who was armed with a knife.
As the officer walked quickly behind the man to catch up to him on level five, he turned to face her and raised a knife. The police officer shot the man and he was pronounced dead.
Here is the timeline of events that has been established so far:
3.10pm: Police said a man walked into Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre before he left.
3.20pm: The man returned to the shopping centre 10 minutes later. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said the man began stabbing people with a knife.
Shortly after: Police rushed to the scene after they received multiple calls from members of the public. A female police officer was nearby at the time and was directed to the man by shoppers in the centre.
She followed the man who had moved to level five of the shopping centre. As she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him, he turned around to face her, raised a knife and the police officer shot the man dead.
4.30pm: NSW Police confirmed they received reports that multiple people have been stabbed. Officers urge people to avoid the area.
6.20pm: NSW Police and NSW Ambulance hold a press conference and confirm five people have died and more than seven people are in hospital.
7.30pm: Authorities later confirm six people have died.
