Westfield massacre live updates: Everything we know about the crazed killer who stabbed five women and a man to death in a busy shopping centre, as police prepare to hold a press conference at 8am

Police knew the man who fatally stabbed six shoppers before being shot dead by a hero officer in a busy shopping centre.

Eight other people were rushed to hospital with stab wounds, including a nine-month-old baby.

New south Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb revealed Saturday night that the bearded, dark-haired man, 40, was known to authorities.

“We are waiting to formally identify him and cannot yet speculate on his identification,” he said.

“But let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and that we are dealing with a person who has already died.”

Police have not yet determined the motive, but a terrorist incident has been ruled out.

“We know a little bit about this person, but we are waiting to confirm his identification,” Commissioner Webb said.

‘And if in fact it is the person we think it is, then we do not fear for that person who has an idea.

“In other words, this is not a terrorist incident.”

Six shoppers were stabbed to death, including mother Dr Ash Good, 38, whose nine-month-old daughter was also injured.

Eight others remain hospitalized in various conditions.

The mall has been closed and will remain closed on Sunday.

Witnesses say the frantic attacker attacked shoppers with his 30cm hunting knife as he went on a wild rampage throughout the centre.

He died in a hail of gunfire after he was shot by the only female police inspector who ran through the mall to confront him and stop his murderous rampage.

‘All he said was “leave it.” Just one time,” said witness Jason Dixon.

Then she shot him in the chest and he fell.

“Then when he fell to the ground, she was giving him CPR.”

Hussein Osseili described how he was at the shopping center with his six-year-old sister and grandmother when he heard gunshots and immediately knew what it was.

‘I just thought I had to get my family safe. I told them to leave,” he told WhatsNew2Day Australia.

‘Then I saw a man with a large hunting knife, about 30cm long, on the escalator in front of Woolies.

‘He walked past Zara and Kmart, he was brandishing the knife and stabbing people. It went to level five and then I heard more police shots. Luckily, my whole family is safe.”

“There was a lady… and there was blood everywhere,” Reid told Nine News.

“I realized I had to go help because that’s what we’re trained to do as lifeguards.”

He and two other members of the public gave first aid to the woman, along with police officers.

“I’ve never seen so much blood… We were just looking for wounds, trying to stop the bleeding,” Reid said.

‘When I looked up, there were several victims, about 50 meters away. The lady next to us was very bad; there were other people working on it.’