Ash Good, a 38-year-old mother, tragically lost her life in a stabbing attack at a shopping center in Sydney, Australia, on April 13, while reportedly trying to protect his 9 month old daughter. Multiple sources including News.com.au, The Telegraphand The Independent have confirmed his identity and the circumstances surrounding his death. Good died from injuries sustained during the attack after being rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital.
The New South Wales Police, although they refrained from confirming the identities of the people involved, did confirm the sequence of events that took place at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre. According to police, the attacker fatally stabbed six people, including Good, and wounded several others before being shot dead by a responding police officer.
The attack occurred at around 3.30pm local time when, according to a police statement, an officer from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command was confronted by a man wielding a knife. The statement details that the attacker lunged at the officer with the knife before being neutralized. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb at a news conference covered by 7News AustraliaHe said the attacker, described only as a “40-year-old man,” appeared to have acted alone.
Police are still in the process of formally identifying the attacker. In the chaos of the attack, Good’s daughter was also injured and was later taken to a local hospital for surgery. Since then, friends and acquaintances of Good have described her as a “beautiful human” and the “best mother in the world,” noting the profound impact she had on those around her.
A witness outside the mall recounted a harrowing scene to 9News Sydney, explaining how he tried to help when the baby was stabbed. She described how her mother, in a desperate attempt to save her son, handed him over to her, revealing the serious injuries she had suffered.
Footage published by several media outlets captured a moment during the attack that showed a shopper attempting to confront the attacker, who was brandishing a knife on an escalator, approaching him with a shopping bollard.
Following the incident, New South Wales Police announced that a critical incident team, made up of members of the State Crime Command and Central Metropolitan Region’s Homicide Squad, would investigate the circumstances surrounding the event. This investigation will also be subject to an independent review to ensure thorough scrutiny of the actions taken during the incident.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences and concern over the attack. via X (formerly Twitter), noting that the Australian Federal Police had informed him of the devastating events. He acknowledged the tragic loss of life and extended his first thoughts to the victims and their families, underlining national mourning and solidarity with those affected.