- Written by Jay Savage, Katie Watson, Simon Atkinson
- in sydney
The knife-wielding man who shot and killed six people at a Sydney shopping center has been identified by Australian police.
Joel Couch, 40, began stabbing people with a long knife on Saturday, causing panic at the crowded Westfield Bondi Junction complex.
Five women and one man died. Several people were injured, including an infant.
Authorities said the attack was most likely “related to the mental health of those involved.”
In an update on Sunday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cook said they were still trying to notify the victim's family.
“It appears that two of them have no family in Australia,” he told reporters.
He said Mr Couch, from Queensland, had been known to police for some time and had bought a storage unit in Sydney.
He reiterated that the attackers did not appear to be motivated by “any particular ideology or motivation.”
The 9-month-old baby girl “was operated on overnight and is currently in the ICU in critical condition,” Health Minister Ryan Park told ABC News.
“We are hopeful that she will be able to overcome this situation, but she has a long way to go.”
Her mother, Ashley Goode, was among those killed. Witnesses told local media that Goode was able to hand over her baby to bystanders immediately after her injuries.
“The mother was stabbed and she came with the baby and threw the baby at me and (I) was holding the baby,” one man told Nine News.
Ms Good's family said in a statement: “We are devastated by the loss of Ashley, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend and all-around great human being.”
“We would like to thank all Australians for their well wishes and thoughts who have expressed their overwhelming love for Ashley and our baby girl,” the family said in a statement.
Ms Good was a “beautiful person”, the owners of the clinic where she once worked told the BBC.
On Sunday, floral tributes began piling up outside a huge shopping center in an affluent part of Sydney's east.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians were “awakening to come to terms with the shock and trauma” of the events.
Ms Albanese described the attack as “indescribable and truly beyond comprehension”, and reiterated the actions of the lone senior female police officer who confronted and shot Ms Couch as the shopping mall was engulfed in terror. I admired it.
The Prime Minister thanked her and the emergency team, saying: “This is a fantastic inspector who, without considering the risk to himself, put himself in danger and removed the threat to others.”
State officials said nine people were taken to hospitals after the incident, and three more were treated overnight. Approximately 40 emergency personnel initially joined the response.
The shopping center remained closed Sunday as forensic investigators examined the scene.
Many world leaders expressed shock. New Zealand leader Christopher Luxon said all New Zealanders were thinking of the victims, while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said they were “in the thoughts and prayers of the British people”.
Pope Francis said he was deeply saddened by the “senseless tragedy” and offered prayers. King Charles said he and Queen Camilla were “completely shocked” and added: “My heart goes out to my family and loved ones.”