SYDNEY: Australian police said on Monday that they are investigating why a 40-year-old man appeared to target women as he roamed a Sydney shopping mall with a large knife, killing six people including a Pakistani and injuring a dozen others.
Social media footage showed Joel Cauchi, described as an unkempt transient, predominantly targeting women as he carried out the rampage within the bustling Westfield shopping complex in Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.
Of the six fatalities, five were women, with the majority of the wounded also being female. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb remarked on the apparent focus on women by the assailant, emphasizing the significance of the videos circulating online as part of the investigation.
While acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the attacker’s motives, Webb stressed the importance of thorough interviews with those familiar with Cauchi to gain insight into his state of mind.
Among the victims, the latest to be identified was Yixuan Cheng, a young Chinese woman studying at the University of Sydney.
In response to the tragedy, Beijing urged Australian authorities to prioritize the treatment of the injured and provide support to affected families, while closely monitoring the progress of the investigation.
The victims included a designer, a volunteer surf lifesaver, the daughter of an entrepreneur, and a new mother who tragically passed away after handing her wounded nine-month-old baby to strangers before succumbing to her injuries. The baby, named Harriet, remains in serious condition but is expected to recover. Authorities said that the sole male victim was identified as 30-year-old Faraz Tahir, who was working at the mall.
