The government is considering granting a visa to a security guard who was stabbed in the stomach after bravely confronting a rampaging knife in a stabbing spree at Westfield Bondi Junctin.
Muhammad Taha, originally from Pakistan, was patrolling the fourth floor of the mall on Saturday afternoon when Cauchi began stabbing random strangers.
Yesterday he asked why he has not been offered citizenship like the ‘Bollard Man’.
Nat Barr asked Defense Minister Richard Marles the same question on his Sunrise show.
‘Mr Taha wants to know where his Visa is after the Prime Minister told the bollard hero he can stay in Australia as long as he wants.
“Will Mr. Taha be allowed to stay too?”
Marles said his visa application will be processed by the Minister of Immigration.
‘I am not aware of the application submitted by Mr Taha, but there is no doubt that the Minister will resolve it.
‘I want to say very clearly that Mr Taha’s actions are enormously brave.
“Out of that tragedy come these incredible stories of bravery for which the nation is deeply indebted and I am confident that Mr Taha’s circumstances will be resolved.”
Taha and his new colleague, Faraz Tahir, ran towards Cauchi, unaware that he was wielding a 30cm hunting sword.
Tahir, 30, who was on his first shift at the mall, was stabbed to death, becoming Cauchi’s only male victim among the six people tragically murdered.
Meanwhile, Taha was stabbed in the stomach, but managed to radio other security personnel for help, becoming one of the first people to raise the alarm.
Muhammad Taha (pictured above), originally from Pakistan, was patrolling the fourth floor of Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon when Joel Cauchi began stabbing random strangers.
Joel Cauchi pictured during the rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction
Mr Taha was stabbed in the stomach, but managed to radio other security personnel for help, becoming one of the first people to raise the alarm (pictured: he is still recovering in hospital).
“Another individual, using a bollard, bravely attempted to stop the attacker and was subsequently offered residency by the Australian Prime Minister due to his brave actions,” Mr Taha said. The Australian from his hospital bed yesterday before the Albanian government took up the case this morning.
‘Likewise, as a direct victim of the incident, I believe I deserve recognition and consideration as a citizen.
“Furthermore, the guards working alongside them ran to the scene of the incident and risked their lives… (they) should also be offered citizenship.”
Taha was referring to Frenchman Damien Guerot, who went viral after images of him looking at Cauchi at the top of an escalator while holding a bollard went viral.
He was quickly given the nickname ‘Bollard Man’ and, for his bravery, Anthony Albanese offered him citizenship on Tuesday, claiming he was ‘welcome to stay as long as he wanted’.
But Taha, whose expert subclass 487 visa expires next month, has questioned why the same recognition has not been extended to him and other first responders who ran toward danger.
Anthony Albanese offered citizenship to Damien Guerot for his bravery
Frenchman Damien Guerot, who went viral after images of him looking at Cauchi at the top of an escalator while holding a bollard went viral.
Cauchi’s other victims were all women.
They were new mother Ashlee Good, 38, future wife Dawn Singleton, 25, daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton, mother of two, Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, and Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27.
The ordeal came to an end when police officer Amy Scott shot and killed Cauchi after telling him to drop the knife.
Guerot’s father told WhatsNew2Day Australia on Wednesday that his 31-year-old son was so full of adrenaline that he went for a two-hour run after confronting the killer.
Loic Guerot, speaking from his home in France, said: “I’ve had a lot of trouble sleeping, it’s incredible.” “I can’t find the words, I’m very proud.”
The family is from Saint-Jean-sur-Mayenne, in the Loire Valley, about 320 kilometers southwest of Paris.
Mr Guerot left the city six years ago and is now happily settled in Australia and works as a carpenter.
Guerot admitted he may have lost his son in the attack, adding: “Now he feels very, very good.” He then went running for two hours.
The six murdered victims (from top left): Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Pikria Darchia, Jade Young, Dawn Singleton and Faraz Tahir.
‘We talked for two hours and then he went to sleep. And then to work the next morning!’
‘He always maintains the same values and always thinks about others.
‘He’s always been ambitious, that’s right. He always thinks of others before himself!’ added Mr. Guerot.
A childhood friend in Saint-Jean-sur-Mayenne, who asked not to be named, said: “Damien is an amazing guy and extremely discreet.”
“He knows he’s famous all over the world now, but he doesn’t want to show off.” He will continue with his normal life, as always.
President Emmanuel Macron himself also praised Guerot and his fellow Frenchman Silas Despreaux for helping to stop the killer.
“Two of our compatriots behaved like true heroes,” Macron wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Very great pride and recognition.”
Guerot was going to the gym with Despreaux on Saturday afternoon when they stumbled upon the scene of the killing.
Terrifying details have emerged about the day knife-wielding Joel Cauchi killed six people in a stabbing spree at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre.
“We tried to catch him but he was coming down the stairs,” Guerot told 7News.
Then we saw him fall and followed him from above. Maybe we tried to throw the bollard at him, but we couldn’t.
Mr. Guerot said he was losing pure “adrenaline.”
‘We don’t think. You can’t think at that moment,’ she said.
“His eyes were like empty eyes… he wasn’t there,” Mr. Guerot said.
The two officers threw the bollards at Cauchi but he managed to escape.
Guerot grabbed a chair and chased New South Wales Police Inspector Amy Scott, who shot Cauchi dead after he lunged at her.
The Frenchman praised Inspector Scott’s quick thinking.
“She was actually the hero, she did the job,” he said.
Westfield will reopen its doors on Thursday for a day of “quiet” community reflection before operations resume on Friday.