The Squiz

PM Anthony Albanese led condolences yesterday, laying a wreath near Sydney’s Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre after 6 people were killed on Saturday afternoon. Queensland man Joel Cauchi was shot dead by police after he stabbed and killed 5 women and one man. Nine women, 2 men and a nine-month-old baby sustained injuries and were hospitalised – their conditions vary from critical to one who has already been released. Albanese said it was “a tragedy that should never have occurred” and he has called for national flags to be flown at half-mast today. And Premier Chris Minns (who’d just landed in Japan for a holiday before turning around to head home…) acknowledged the community’s anger. “But it’s very important to say that New South Wales will bounce back,” he said.  

It’s just so shocking… 

Well, it is the biggest mass killing seen in the state since a nurse set fire to a nursing home in Quakers Hill, killing 14 people in November 2011… Five of the victims have so far been named. Ashlee Good, a 38yo mum who that day posted to social media about her “indescribable love” for her 9-month-old daughter, died of her injuries in hospital. Her baby was also stabbed and is in a serious but stable condition. Dawn Singleton (the 25yo daughter of Australian adman John Singleton) and 47yo Jade Young (an architect/mum of 2) died at the scene. Pikria Darchia was also named as a victim last night – she was a 55yo artist and designer. Two on-duty security guards were also victims – one has been named as 30yo Faraz Ahmed, a refugee from Pakistan who was on his first day of work at the shopping centre. One more victim is yet to be named. 

And what happened? 

Cauci arrived at Westfield at 3:10pm, left, and returned 10 minutes later to start stabbing shoppers. The panic saw hundreds run for the exits or into stores where they could shelter. What ended it was the actions of Police Inspector Amy Scott… Authorities say there’s nothing to suggest a political/religious motive, and an investigation has been launched, including if Cauchi targeted women. As for what’s known about him, he moved to Sydney from Brissie last month and he’d “come to the notice of law enforcement” in NSW and Queensland for “mental health-related issues” but was not “known criminally”. In a statement, his family condemned his actions. If there is one thing to be grateful for, it’s that Cauchi didn’t have guns – not that he wasn’t interested… Yesterday, the PM said “it is an important reminder of how important it is that we do have strong gun laws in this country.”