A disturbing theory has emerged about the killer who went on a stabbing spree in Sydney yesterday as police investigate a potential history of him targeting woman.
The mass stabbing on Saturday afternoon by Joel Cauchi at the Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction has shocked the nation as a massive police investigation unfolds.
Six people, five women and one man, were killed in the attack and several others were injured.
A nine-month-old baby girl was among those stabbed and underwent surgery on Saturday night, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters on Saturday.
The child’s mother Ash Good was one of those who died, passing her baby onto strangers and begging them to help before she lost consciousness.
A disturbing theory has emerged that the killer (pictured) who went on a stabbing spree in Sydney yesterday may have targeted women
Six people, five women and one man, were killed in the attack and several others were injured (pictured, forensic teams at the scene on Sunday)
The knifeman was shot dead by a lone female police, Amy Scott, at the scene.
Cauchi, 40, who is from the Brisbane area, had mental health issues and moved to Sydney from Queensland a month ago. He lived with schizophrenia.
There is no suggestion that Cauchi was part of any particular ideology, with police treating the horrific attack as a mental-health related incident.
Today Show host Karl Stefanovic this morning said he had ‘no words’ for his thoughts about the incident but expressed his disgust at the number of female victims.
‘I don’t care what the excuses are, and I hope there’s a special place in hell reserved for him, given the fact that he walked past men, and didn’t do anything about it and attacked women,’ he said.
‘This offender, may you rot in hell. Forgive me for saying, but for what he’s done, I don’t care.
‘A woman with a baby.’
Many others shared similar words online.
‘Can it be true the Bondi attack was aimed at women? Five women, dead?’ she wrote.
‘I am grieving male violence today. I cannot say oh my god, because I have refused gods. But the anger, is rising.’
Another said: ‘This Bondi Junction stabber appears to have targeted WOMEN.’
On Nine’s Today Show on Sunday, terror expert Greg Barton said the death of several women was ‘one of the ugliest aspects’ of the ‘incredible tragedy’.
‘I think it is important that police say they’re going to take their time, do the investigative work, and let us know what they understand about motivation,’ he said.
‘Of course, the biggest threat we face in from violence day to day is domestic violence. Whether that’s involved here or not is a question.
‘But yes, the callous attacking of a mother and a child and other women is awful.’
The knifeman has been identified as Joel Cauchi (pictured), who is from the Brisbane area and moved to Sydney from Queensland a month ago
The attacks have been widely condemned with Today Show host Karl Stefanovic telling the knifeman to ‘rot in hell’ (pictured, flowers left at the scene on Sunday)
Lifeguard Andrew Reid from Bondi Rescue was present at the shopping centre and assisted in administering first aid to several of the victims.
‘She just wanted to be a mum, you know? She just wanted to be. And she was a beautiful person. And she would have been an amazing mum,’ he said.
‘I don’t know how that father, deals with what he’s got on his plate, this morning, losing his wife, and having a nine month old fighting for life.’
Mr Reid also recalled and the devastating scene he came upon.
‘So the first victim was a young woman, sort of 30 to 40. And then the next victim I looked over, she was probably a little bit older, 40 to 50, maybe, but she was she was in a bad way,’ he said.
‘She and the police were trying to, like, work on her, but oh my God, I’ve never … I’ve never seen that much blood.’
Mr Reid said that he and the other first responders were simply acting based on their training and experience
‘But, you know, for me, some of the real heroes are the Police officer woman that brought him down, the guy with the bollard.
‘Like, are you kidding me? Like he kept him at bay. You know, that would have given time for more Police to get there, for more people to get out of there.
‘Like he’s an absolute legend.’
Police commissioner Karen Webb said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Police do not believe there is an no ongoing threat and the incident was not terror related (pictured emergency crews at the scene)
‘Let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased,’ Ms Webb said.
‘The investigation will be ongoing for many, many days but there are elements that we understand at this point in time that don’t indicate (a terrorist attack), but as we move into the investigation, and background this person, his home, vehicle, associates, we will only know at that time.’
READ MORE: Update on Ashlee Good’s baby who was stabbed in Westfield Bondi stabbing rampage – after her mother died in attack
