The Sydney stabbings attacker who killed six people has been named by police.
New South Wales Police (NSW) said on Sunday that Joel Cauchi, 40, was responsible for the attack on Saturday afternoon at a busy Sydney shopping centre before he was fatally shot by a police officer.
Cauchi, who police said suffered from unspecified mental health issues, launched the knife attack at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction.
Investigators are not treating the incident as terrorism-related and have spoken to Cauchi’s family.
NSW assistant police commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters at a press conference: “We are continuing to work through the profiling of the offender but very clearly to us at this stage it would appear that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved.
“There is still, to this point… no information we have received, no evidence we have recovered, no intelligence that we have gathered that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation – ideology or otherwise.”
A woman pays her respect and lays flowers at the scene of Saturday’s mass stabbing. Pic: Reuters
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Dying mum throws baby to brothers
Ashlee Good. Pic: PA
Cauchi’s family released a statement today through Queensland Police.
They said: “We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time.
“Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened.
“He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”
Six killed in stabbings
New mum Ashlee Good has been named as one of the six people killed in the stabbings.
The 38-year-old was reported to have passed her baby to two men after she was injured.
“I was holding the baby. It looked pretty bad,” one of the men told 9News.
His brother added: “He helped with holding the baby and trying to compress the baby and same with the mother.
Pic: Reuters
Police do not believe the attack was terror-related. Pic: Reuters
“We just kept yelling out to get some clothes, get some shirts and just help us to compress and stop the baby from bleeding.”
The other brother added: “There was a lot of blood on the floor. I hope the baby is alright.”
A statement from Ms Good’s family, as reported by ABC, said: “Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human, and so much more.
“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
“The two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not – words cannot express our gratitude. We are struggling to come to terms with what has occurred.”
The family added that after hours of surgery the baby was doing well.
The daughter of an Australian businessman has also been named as one of the victims.
Dawn Singleton, 25, was also killed according to widespread media reports in Australia.
Her dad, John Singleton, 82, is a well-known Australian entrepreneur.
According to Ms Singleton’s LinkedIn profile she studied a degree in communications at the University of Technology Sydney.
A third victim was named as Faraz Tahir, by the Australian Pakistani National Association.
They described him as “courageous” and said he was a Pakistani national who had moved to Australia for work.
“Let us stand together in solidarity, offering support and prayers to those grieving and affected by this heartbreaking loss,” their statement said.
New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said in a press conference that a man in his 30s killed in the attack was a security guard at the shopping centre.
Six people, five women and one man, aged between 20 and 55, were killed in the attack and 12 others remain in hospital including Ms Good’s child.
Video footage appears to show people fleeing from a knife-wielding Cauchi as he walked through the shopping centre, lunging at people.
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He was only stopped when Inspector Amy Scott shot Cauchi dead at the scene.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the lone officer was “certainly a hero” whose actions had saved many more lives.
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Authorities said the suspect is known to them
He added: “The wonderful inspector who ran into danger by herself and removed the threat that was there to others, without thinking about the risks to herself.
“We also see the footage of ordinary Australians putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens.
“That bravery was quite extraordinary that we saw yesterday.”
Inspector Scott was shown in local media footage administering CPR on the man after he was shot.
“When I met Amy last night… we talked about her going straight into police mode, everything she has been taught during her career and how instinctive it was,” NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said.
She added: “When I said to her ‘thank you for your courage’ she said ‘it was not just me, the bystanders around me were so helpful’. (She was) so humble, it’s just typical of a NSW police officer.”
The shopping centre remains closed on Sunday and will be an active crime scene over the coming days, police said.
