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Australians are mourning the lives of six innocent people who were murdered in a horrific stabbing spree at Westfield Bondi Junction.
Tributes are flowing for the five women and one man who were fatally stabbed by Joel Cauchi, 40, after he entered the center armed with a 30cm knife on Saturday.
Chaos ensued as men, women and children ran for their lives before NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott confronted Cauchi and shot him in the chest.
While Cauchi’s motives remain unknown, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it appeared the killer had been targeting women and avoiding men.
Dozens of people have left handwritten notes and flowers outside Westfield as friends and family of the victims try to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
Here, WhatsNew2Day Australia details what we know about the Bondi Junction victims.
The victims in the top row from LR: Yixuan Cheng, 27, Ashlee Good, 38, and Pikria Darchia, 55. In the bottom row from LR: Jade Young, 47, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30.
Ashlee Good, 38
Dr Ashlee Good, 38, was a trained osteopath and first-time mother to her baby Harriet.
Dr Ashlee Good, 38, was a trained osteopath and new mother. She is the daughter of former North Melbourne AFL player and board member Kerry Good.
She died at St Vincents Hospital on Saturday night after being stabbed by Cauchi while trying to protect her nine-month-old baby from the attacker.
The dying mother threw her baby into the arms of two strangers and begged them to help her.
She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition for emergency surgery.
Police said Monday that the boy remained in serious but stable condition.
Dr Good’s family released a statement on Sunday morning, thanking NSW Police and the team at Sydney Children’s Hospital for their support.
“Today we are recovering from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, an exceptional human being and much more,” it said.
‘We appreciate the good wishes and thoughts from members of the Australian public who have expressed great love for Ashlee and our baby girl.
“To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee couldn’t, words cannot express our gratitude.”
A mall worker recalled the moment he saw a mother with “blood all over her back” screaming on the upper level.
“I see a mother and maybe her partner with a baby in a stroller, screaming very loudly,” the employee told Nine News.
‘She is running around not knowing what to do. She then goes back to the stroller and picks up the baby from her and there’s blood all over her back.
‘The scream was unforgettable, it was the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. My coworker took me, we closed all the doors, we had to turn off all the lights and doors.”
Just 12 weeks after the birth of her little girl, Dr. Good posted a heartfelt message on social media about becoming a mother.
“It’s almost too much for words,” he wrote.
‘Love. The happiness. The fears. The new World. The new me; one that I am still discovering as I enter motherhood and complete the so-called fourth trimester.
She said that being a mother was “the most beautiful gift one can receive” and that she was “pinching herself because she is ours.”
Emotional North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson described his death as a “bloody tragedy” as iconic Melbourne monuments were lit up in tribute on Sunday night.
“That poor girl… now without her mother, she was a very, very beautiful lady,” he told reporters.
Dawn Singleton, 25 years old
Dawn Singleton was the daughter of billionaire advertising guru John Singleton and lawyer Julie Martin. She worked in e-commerce for White Fox Boutique.
In a cruel twist of fate, her fiance, New South Wales police officer Ashley Wildey, responded to the incident unaware that her childhood sweetheart was a victim (the couple are pictured).
Dawn Singleton was the 25-year-old daughter of billionaire advertising guru John Singleton and lawyer Julie Martin.
Her father, a racing enthusiast, named his prized racehorse filly ‘Dawnie Perfect’ after his daughter.
Ms Singleton had worked in e-commerce for fashion brand White Fox Boutique and had attended Kambala Church of England Girls’ School.
She had only arrived at Westfield Bondi Junction 15 minutes before she was attacked while shopping for makeup at Chanel for her upcoming wedding.
In a cruel twist of fate, her fiance, New South Wales police officer Ashley Wildey, responded to the incident unaware that her childhood sweetheart was a victim.
2GB presenter Ray Hadley revealed on Monday that he had broken the devastating news that Dawn had been murdered to Mr Singleton.
Hadley, who has been a friend of the Singleton family for 30 years, said she had confirmed his name with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb.
He revealed that Ms Singleton had put down a deposit on her wedding dress on Friday. She had also started sending save the dates to her friends and family.
Her cousin, Jade O’Connor, said Singleton had lit up every room.
‘Dawn, I should be writing your wedding speech. [but] Instead, I sit here sobbing and accept that life is not fair and you are no longer here,” she wrote.
‘This year you had to marry the love of your life. I’m so broken and [can’t] I think this is reality.’
White Fox Boutique said Dawn was a “sweet, kind-hearted person” in a statement.
“Over the weekend we lost not only an employee… but someone special to us who felt like a family member,” the company wrote.
‘We are all truly devastated by this loss. Dawn was a sweet, kind-hearted person who had her whole life ahead of her. she was really amazing [and] “She will always be remembered as part of the White Fox family.”
Ms Singleton’s school, Kambala, said it was “shocked and saddened” by the events.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy,” a statement read.
Young Jade, 47 years old
Jade Young was a 47-year-old Sydney architect and mother of two who grew up in Wollongong.
Jade Young was a 47-year-old Sydney architect and mother of two who grew up in Wollongong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.
She was a member of the Brontë Surf Club in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, which canceled its drinks socials on Sunday after the attack.
“This is and will be a difficult time for the community,” the club said on Facebook.
“We are here to support the community and our deepest condolences to everyone affected.”
Pikria Darchia, 55 years old
Pikria Darchia is believed to have two children and is originally from Tbilisi, Georgia.
Pikria Darchia was an artist and designer.
She is believed to have two children and is originally from Tbilisi, Georgia.
Yixuan Cheng, 27 years old
Yixuan Cheng, 27, was an economics student at the University of Sydney and was named on Monday as the sixth victim in the wave of stabbings.
Yixuan Cheng, 27, was an economics student at the University of Sydney.
Cheng’s parents told Chinese media that their daughter was speaking on the phone with her fiancé, who lives in China, a few minutes before the tragedy.
She was on the fourth floor of the mall, shopping and sending her boyfriend photos of her trying on clothes.
After ending the call with his girlfriend, her boyfriend saw the news about the stabbing attack in Sydney.
He immediately called her again, but Mrs. Cheng did not answer. He had been planning to marry her after she graduated this year.
Wang Chunsheng, China’s acting consul general in Sydney, said he was “very sorry” to learn of the incident and that the consulate was in contact with his family.
Faraz Tahir, 30 years old
Faraz Tahir was fatally stabbed on his first day as a security guard at Westfield Bondi Junction when he was reportedly trying to stop Cauchi amid the rampage.
Faraz Tahir was fatally stabbed on his first day as a security guard at Westfield Bondi Junction when he was reportedly trying to stop Cauchi amid the rampage.
Tahir came to Australia as a refugee after fleeing his home country of Pakistan.
He was a beloved member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia and was involved in charitable efforts for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth organisation.
“He quickly became an integral part of our community, known for his unwavering dedication and kindness,” the group said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Faraz’s family and loved ones during this difficult time and with the victims and their families affected by this senseless act of violence.”
Scentre Group chief executive Elliott Rusanow said: “We are devastated by Faraz’s passing and recognize the bravery and role of our team members as first responders.”
“Another member of our security team was injured and remains in hospital.”
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