A man stabbed six people to death at a busy Sydney shopping center Saturday before he was fatally shot, police said, with hundreds fleeing the chaotic scene, many weeping as they carried their children. Eight people, including a 9-month-old, were injured.

New South Wales police said they believed a 40-year-old man was responsible for the Saturday afternoon attack at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, in the city’s eastern suburbs and not far from the world-famous Bondi Beach. They said they were not able to name him until a formal identification had taken place but that they weren’t treating the attack as terrorism-related.

The man was shot dead by a police inspector after he turned and raised a knife, New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    8 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    The attack at the shopping center, one of the country’s busiest and which was a hub of activity on a particularly warm fall afternoon, began around 3:10 p.m. and police were swiftly called.

    “This was a horrific act of violence indiscriminately targeted at innocent people going about a normal Saturday, doing their shopping,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

    “Today Bondi Junction was the scene of horrific violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow Australians, our brave police, our first responders, and of course our everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment,” he added.

    King Charles III said he and his wife Queen Camilla were “utterly shocked and horrified” by the “senseless attack” in Sydney and that their “hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed.” The king’s eldest son Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, said they too were “shocked and saddened” and that their thoughts are with those affected and the “heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others.”

    Pope Francis also expressed his sadness at the “senseless tragedy” in Sydney, offering his “spiritual closeness” to all those affected and prayers for the dead and injured.

    The message was contained in a telegram to Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher and sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.


    The original article contains 875 words, the summary contains 241 words. Saved 72%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

    • Victor@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Man, this is why I get anxious in public places these days. Never know who will wreck/end your day/life.

      • Deceptichum@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        I wouldn’t get anxious over this.

        It’s so extremely rare here, I’d be more worried about a car if I was going to worry at all.

              • M137@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                I’m a Swede too and don’t get anxious at all. It’s very much not a common thing here, or anywhere in the world. It’s more common in some places (like the US) but that doesn’t make it common enough to be a thing to constantly worry about. Let’s take the event in this thread as an example, there have been thousands of days at that specific place where nothing happened, and the vast majority of people there weren’t even close enough to be in harm’s way. And then we have the millions of places like this all over the world where nothing happened today. The chance of you being at the specific place and time, close enough to be in harm’s way is extremely low. I’m in no way saying stuff like this isn’t a problem or should be ignored, just that it’s completely irrational to have any fear about it no matter where you live.

                • Victor@lemmy.world
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                  8 months ago

                  I haven’t been in a car accident, ever. That’s how rare that is, to me. That doesn’t mean I’m not careful around other drivers. You know?

                  Like, I’ve become aware that these things happen, on occasion, and that’s enough to make me slightly anxious.

                  It’s not like I’ve developed an irrational fear of leaving my home or anything… I’ve just become more aware and my senses are on high alert when I’m in a big crowd nowadays.

      • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        Life is impermanent, it’s true. The good news is that once you die you don’t give a fuck so there’s a relatively small window where you’d regret your decision. It’s important to focus on the positive parts of life so you can enjoy it - that’s by no means easy - but it is important.

        • Victor@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          I’m not unhappy or not enjoying life, just anxious in public places with lots of people. Big crowds feel like targets these days rather than gatherings. 😶‍🌫️

      • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I get it but if it helps any, unless you live in a very select areas of the world actively having wars now, the odds of anything happening to you continue to fall as time goes on.

        There is nothing wrong with having feelings and there is nothing wrong with responding to the narrative you are presented with. I am simply pointing out the stats indicate you are not in danger. I hope you can utilize this fact and overcome your anxiety