Bondi Junction mass stabbing live updates: Ashlee Good’s family ‘reeling from terrible loss’; Sydney attacker named by police – latest news
[ad_1]
Key events
The head of the Australian Psychological Society, Dr Catriona Davis-McCade has issued a statement extending her deepest condolences to “the victims and all people affected by the tragic events” at Bondi Junction on Sunday.
This event will have a profound and lifelong impact on all people involved, including victims, first responders, witnesses, members of the community and members of the media reporting on the tragedy. Feelings such as immense grief, shock, horror and fear will be widespread in the community. These feelings are normal to experience, and it can take a few days, weeks or even months to recover from a traumatic event.
Many of the brave people who helped at the scene or witnessed the incident will be in a state of shock which is likely to continue for some time.
It is crucial to prioritise psychological support and resources for those affected to navigate through the coming days, weeks and years.
It is also important not to speculate at this time regarding the cause or motivation of the attack, and trust that further information will be uncovered and communicated by the police and authorities when formal investigations have been completed.
The statement also contains a checklist of advice and resources to help people respond to what has taken place if they are struggling themselves, or struggling to explain what happened to their children.
Dr Davis-McCade also praised the police officer, first responders and members of the community who “so bravely put their own lives at risk to save and care for others.”
Anthony Albanese has arrived at Bondi Westfield shopping centre with the NSW premier, Chris Minns, the local federal MP, Allegra Spender, and other local leaders to lay flowers for the victims.
They are not expected to make further statements but we’ll let you know if that changes.
Daisy Dumas
‘The community is on edge’ – Waverley mayor
As people queued to sign a condolences book set up by the premier’s department close to a growing floral tribute to the victims, one of those reeling after the attacks was the Waverley mayor, Paula Masselos.
“We’re still trying to process it,” she said, steps from the entrance to the Westfield shopping centre.
It’s outside people’s frame of reference. There is shock and disbelief.
The fact that so many people are hanging around and want to be here shows they want to share and support the community.
The community is on edge. The more we can help them to process this and reassure them, [the better]. It’s important to remember he acted alone. The threat has ended and he did not have an ideology. We think it is mental health related.
She will be part of a multi-agency meeting including political leaders on Sunday afternoon, where the management of resources and a coordinated approach will be on the agenda, she said.
Trauma counsellors, Rabbi Mendel Kastel and the Salvation Army were all on hand to comfort the community, she said.
Laying flowers allows people the opportunity to do something physical [in support of the community].
North Melbourne offer ‘love and support’ to Ash Good’s family
North Melbourne Football Club has expressed its “deepest sympathies” to the Good family following the death of Ashlee Good and her baby girl, who is currently in critical condition.
Good was the daughter of past player and former board member Kerry Good and his wife Denise. She is the second of four children who was “known and loved by many in the North Melbourne community.”
The North Melbourne president, Dr Sonja Hood, said those connected to North Melbourne were tremendously saddened by the news.
Like all Australians, we were horrified to see the awful details coming out of Sydney on Saturday.
To learn later that Ashlee and her daughter were victims in this tragedy really brings something like this close to home.
Our thoughts and condolences go to all those impacted by the awful events, especially to Ashlee’s partner Daniel Flanagan, Kerry and Dian, Ashlee’s mother Denise, and Ashlee’s extended family and friends.
Kerry and his family are incredibly important people in our club’s history and we offer them our love and support through what is an unimaginably difficult time.
The Good family have accepted the club’s offer for North Melbourne players to wear black armbands in honour of Ashlee in the match against Geelong on Sunday afternoon.
Kerry Good played 74 games for the Kangaroos from 1977 to 83 and served as a director during North Melbourne’s successful run in the 1990s.
Cauchi believed to have had an interest in knives
Lowe has described Cauchi as a 40-year-old single man with no family and no known employment. His parents were aware he was interstate but do not have regular contact with him. It is believed he had an interest in knives.
Police are aware of an incident that took place in early 2023 involving his family when authorities were called, but Cauchi was never charged with an offence relating to a knife and never been found in possession of a knife that is unlawful and would lead to prosecution.
Lowe also says Queensland police are not aware of any links to conservative Christian groups.
I can reaffirm that the NSW police force, as the lead agency in this investigation, have spoken on that there is no ideology that would suggest this matter is has a religious focus.
Cauchi diagnosed with a mental illness at 17, says Lowe
Lowe says Cauchi had been diagnosed with a mental illness at age 17 and had undergone treatment over the years.
Police will travel up here in the very near future to obviously speak to the family as part of their investigation. We have people in our society who suffer from mental health. They go about their days without trouble, without causing these type of crimes. Mental health in society is not a crime and we do not run an intelligence regime on persons who suffer from mental health. There would only be an exchange of information if a person were to present such a security risk in society, that would we would need to monitor that behaviour.
His family have limited contact with him – the extent of contact amounted to occasionally answering a text message. The last contact he had with his family was in March.
Lowe says Cauchi’s family contacted police after viewing footage of the attack at Westfield as they believed it may have been their relative.
Attacker had not been arrested on domestic violence-related issues
Asked whether Cauchi had a record of domestic violence, Lowe says the man had not been arrested or prosecuted for any domestic violence-related threats.
Pressed on whether there were any other encounters outside the courts, Lowe said no orders were in place.
Cauchi known to be itinerant – Queensland police
Queensland police say there is no intelligence of increased concerns or an ongoing threat to shopping centres but they have temporarily increased their presence as a precaution.
Responding to questions about Cauchi, they say he has been known to be itinerant, moving from Brisbane to Kangaroo Point, Carina and back to his family’s resident at different times.
The last interaction with police took place in 2023 where he was street checked on the Gold Coast.
Police believe he has been sleeping in a vehicle, according to his family, who do not have regular contact with him.
Stabber Joel Cauchi’s family offer condolences to victims’ families
Queensland police acting assistant commissioner Roger Lowe says Joel Cauchi was known to police but had not been arrested or criminally convicted over the last four to five years.
Police say they have had limited contact with Cauchi during that period but they are aware that he suffered from issues relating to his mental health.
We are liaising with this man’s family in Queensland and we have spent yesterday evening with his family delivering the message regarding their son and assisting them with regards to providing information to the NSW police force.
The family have cooperated with the Queensland police service in this regard and they are issuing a statement on their behalf with respect to their own condolences and thoughts to the family and friends of those victims involved in this tragedy.
Equally they have sent a message to the NSW police force with respect to support of the police officer who has killed their son and expressing their concerns for her welfare.
Daisy Dumas
‘It’s too close to home’: residents and officials pay respects
The usual buses, taxis and weekend bustle were replaced by scores of police vehicles and a sombre, bewildered atmosphere in Bondi Junction on Sunday morning.
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, was joined by the police commissioner, Karen Webb, local federal MP, Allegra Spender, and Waverley mayor, Paula Masselos, as he spoke of the “extreme courage of complete strangers” during the knife attack that killed six people on Saturday afternoon.
Just steps away from the premier was a fast-growing tribute to victims as reeling residents lay bouquets in honour of those who lost their lives during an ordinary shopping trip.
One of those who laid flowers was Bondi Junction retiree Paul Rondeau, 67.
“I felt I was drawn here, I just had to pay my respects,” he said after placing a bunch of hyacinths on the pile at the intersection of Oxford Street and Grosvenor Street, metres from the entrance to the Westfield centre.
I live down the block and after three, all hell broke loose. Every emergency vehicle in Sydney, it seemed, was going by. It was very rattling. I grew up in New York City and that’s where you expect to see things like this. This is the last place you expect it. It’s a real shock.
Creative and Queens Park resident Rosie Macken, 54, placed a watercolour painting of flowers and hearts near the tributes.
“I was here yesterday when the Swat teams arrived,” she said, crying.
I came here this morning and I just sobbed. It just hits you – it could have been anyone. It’s too close to home.
Her painting includes six hearts for those who lost their lives, alongside the words: “Fly high innocent angels.” On the back, she wrote: “So devastating, so sad, rest in peace.”
Another bunch of flowers was accompanied by the message:
Our hearts and prayers r with all of you.
More images of the growing flower memorial on Oxford Street mall near the Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction.
Daisy Dumas
Alleged attacker ‘confused when he ordered’ lunch
The alleged perpetrator calmly ate a lunch of red curry chicken with rice hours before stabbing and killing six people and injuring 12 more.
Rogate Sianipar, 29, served Joel Cauchi his lunch at Saigon Noodle in Oxford Street mall, about 100m from Westfield, at about midday on Saturday.
He came at 10am but didn’t have any money so came back at 12. He seemed confused when he ordered. Normal but confused. He opened his wallet and paid.
Ariel Bogle
‘Human error’: Seven sorry for wrongly naming attacker
Seven has apologised for naming the wrong person as the Bondi Junction attacker.
The incorrect name appeared on the Seven News website, where he was called a “lone wolf attacker” and in a caption on the outlet’s YouTube channel. The YouTube video has since been made private. He was also named on air early on Sunday morning.
“The mistake was human error,” a Seven spokesperson said.
It was escalated immediately and rectified. Seven sincerely apologises for the error.
Screenshots from the website including the incorrect name were circulated widely on X before the piece was altered.
Police have identified the attacker as 40-year-old Queensland man Joel Cauchi.
‘Hundreds of deaths’ if attacker had gun, PM says
Josh Butler
While acknowledging an extraordinary tragedy and sending condolences to victims and their loved ones, Anthony Albanese has gone on to praise Australia’s strong gun laws as an important part of such events being relatively rare in Australia.
“This man wielded a deadly weapon, in the form of a knife, but if it was an automatic gun, then we would have been speaking about hundreds of deaths,” the PM said on ABC radio.
It is an important reminder of how important it is that we do have strong gun laws in this country.
Albanese declined to weigh into a conversation about whether the stabbing incident made a case for tougher security at public places like shopping centres.
It’s time to express our condolences for those who have suffered. There will be a time for an appropriate, considered response to any security lessons that need to be learned from an incident such as this. An incident like this will provoke a necessary review that should be done in a considered way.
[ad_2]
