Hero security guard Faraz Tahir was excited about his first day on the job at Bondi Junction Westfield hours before he was stabbed to death, his grieving family has revealed.
Tahir, a 30-year-old Pakistani refugee, was one of six killed by knife-wielding Joel Cauchi at Sydney’s eastern suburbs shopping complex on April 13, 2024.
Heartbreaking details have emerged of the last video call he made to loved ones at home shortly before going to work on that tragic day ahead of a coronial inquest into the massacre.
Tahir’s family says he was very excited to start his new life in a country he described as safe and “very peaceful.”
“That day… he was talking to the whole family on a video call in Pakistan, he was dressed and told us he was getting ready to go to work,” the family told Seven News.
‘He said it’s my first shift at Bondi Junction… and I was so excited.
“He finally felt safe in Australia…he said, ‘Australia is very beautiful, Australia is very exciting and very peaceful.'”
The family is very proud of the actions of Mr. Tahir, who was killed trying to stop Cauchi’s murderous attack.
Security guard hero Faraz Tahir was excited to start his new job as a security guard on the day he was one of six stabbing victims, his family revealed.
“He was a security guard and did everything he could… we definitely consider him a hero,” the family told Seven News.
‘He did what he had to do to protect humanity.
“And their sacrifice will make things better in the future… to prevent these types of incidents from happening again.”
Tahir fled persecution in Pakistan before arriving in Australia in 2022.
He and his colleague Muhammad Taha heard “people screaming and shouting” while on their shift and ran toward the commotion.
Taha told mourners who farewelled Tahir in April at a mosque in the north-west Sydney suburb of Marsden Park that his colleague’s death The last words were “let’s find out what’s going on.”
A member of the public places a flower at the Bondi Junction stabbing memorial site in the Westfield shopping center where it occurred.
Taha said he was “two or three steps” away from Tahir when Cauchi “jumped towards him and suddenly stabbed him.”
“It just fell down,” Mr Taha said.
“I grabbed him and pushed him towards the chairs and sofas in the cafe and managed to lay him down.”
Cauchi then attacked Mr Taha, who at first did not realize he had been stabbed because he was looking after Mr Tahir.
Tahir’s family said they believe he should have been equipped with more safety equipment and means to defend himself beyond his own hands.
“To deal with these types of ad hoc incidents… you need to provide them with some type of special equipment or protection,” they said.
“This way at least they can protect themselves better… because he couldn’t defend himself.”
A directions hearing will be held on Tuesday morning, ahead of a full coronial inquest, which has brought back painful memories for Tahir’s family.
Tahir was a refugee from Pakistan and described his new home, Australia, as “a very peaceful country.”
“It’s an emotional time…going through this again,” the family said.
“The memories will come back.”
New South Wales coroner Teresa O’Sullivan will establish details surrounding the seven deaths, including 40-year-old Cauchi.
The inquest will review evidence and hear from a handful of witnesses, which the family say is sure to bring back painful memories.
“It’s an emotional time… to be going through this again,” they said.
“The memories will come back.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns hopes the investigation will provide much-needed answers for the victims’ families.
“When such a horrendous crime and such a terrible tragedy occurs, governments have to learn and implement changes as soon as possible,” he told reporters on Monday.
Faraz Tahir’s brothers say investigation will bring back painful memories for family
Cauchi entered the shopping center around 3:20 p.m. armed with a knife and began stabbing people at random.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who was at the shopping center when the attack occurred, was the first on the scene and followed Cauchi before ordering him to drop his gun.
When he turned around and raised his knife, the officer shot and killed him.
Along with Mr Tahir, five other people were fatally stabbed: Cheng Yixuan, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, and Ashlee Good, 38.
Good’s nine-month-old daughter, who was sitting in her stroller at the time of the attack, was also stabbed by Cauchi.
The mother handed her injured baby to two strangers as she lay seriously injured.
The baby underwent emergency surgery and survived the attack.