A disturbing theory has emerged that the killer who stabbed Sydney yesterday may have targeted women.
The mass stabbing that occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Westfield center in Bondi Junction has shocked the nation as a massive police investigation unfolds.
Six people were killed in the attack, five women and one man, and several others were injured.
A nine-month-old baby was among those stabbed and underwent surgery on Saturday night, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters on Saturday.
The child’s mother was one of those who died, passing her baby to strangers and begging them to help her before she lost consciousness.
The man was shot and killed by a lone female police officer, Amy Scott, at the scene.
He has been identified as Joel Cauchi, 40 years old. who is from the Brisbane area and had mental health issues, moved to Sydney from Queensland a month ago.
There is no suggestion that Cauchi was part of any particular ideology, and police treated the horrific attack as a mental health incident.
A disturbing theory has emerged that the killer who stabbed Sydney yesterday may have targeted women.
Today Show host Karl Stefanovic said this morning that he had “no words” to express his opinion on the incident, but expressed his disgust at the number of female victims.
“I don’t care about excuses, and I hope there is a special place in hell reserved for him, given the fact that he walked past men and did nothing about it and attacked women,” she said.
‘This criminal, let him rot in hell. Forgive me for saying it, but because of what he’s done, I don’t care.
“A woman with a baby.”
Many others shared similar words online.
‘Can it be true that the Bondi attack was aimed at women? Five dead women? she wrote.
‘Today I am mourning male violence. I cannot say oh my God, because I have rejected gods. But the anger is increasing.”
Another said: “This Bondi Junction stabber appears to have targeted WOMEN.”
On Nine’s Today Show on Sunday, terrorism expert Greg Barton said extremist groups would normally have posted online about the incident beforehand to signal an imminent attack.
Barton also said the deaths of several women were “one of the ugliest aspects” of the “incredible tragedy.”
“I think it’s important for police to say they’re going to take their time, do the investigative work and let us know what they understand about the motivation,” he said.
‘Of course, the biggest threat we face in Australia from everyday violence is domestic violence. Whether that’s involved here or not is a question.
“But yes, the cruel attack on a mother, a child and other women is horrible.”
Lifeguard Andrew Reid from Bondi Rescue was present at the shopping center and helped administer first aid to several of the victims.
‘She just wanted to be a mother, you know? She just wanted to be. And she was a beautiful person. And she would have been an amazing mother,” she stated.
“I don’t know how that father deals with what’s on his plate this morning, losing his wife and having a nine-month-old child fighting for his life.”
Mr Reid also recalled the devastating scene he encountered.
“So the first victim was a young woman, 30 to 40 years old. And then the next victim I looked at, she was probably a little bit older, 40 to 50 years old, maybe, but she was in bad shape.” he said.
“She and the police were trying to work with her, but, my God, I’ve never… I’ve never seen so much blood.”
Reid said he and the other first responders were simply acting based on their training and experience.
But, you know, to me, some of the real heroes are the police officer who took him down, the guy on the bollard.
‘Are you kidding? As if she kept him in line. You know, that would have given time for more police to arrive and for more people to get out of there.
“Like he was an absolute legend.”
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Mr Webb said last night there was not believed to be any ongoing threat to the public.
“Let me reassure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with a person who is now deceased,” Ms Webb said.
“The investigation will continue for many, many days, but there are elements that we understand at this time that do not indicate (a terrorist attack), but as we move forward in the investigation and look into the background of this person, his home, vehicle, associates, We will only know at that moment.