Five victims of Bondi Junction attack identified as leaders lay flowers outside shopping centre — as it happened (2024)

The details emerging from yesterday's attack can be distressing and confronting. If you or someone you know needs help, there are a number of services available:

• NSW Health's Mental Health Lineon 1800 011 511
• Suicide Call Back Serviceon 1300 659 467
• Lifelineon 13 11 14
• Aboriginal&Torres Strait Islander crisis support line13YARNon 13 92 76
• Kids Helplineon 1800 551 800
• Beyond Blueon 1300 224 636
• Headspaceon 1800 650 890
• ReachOutatau.reachout.com
• MensLine Australiaon 1300 789 978

Here's a recap of what we have learnt today after Saturday's attack at Bondi Junction:

• Five of the six vicitims who have died as a result of the attack have been identified.
• They are Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia.
• Twelve people were also hospitalised for injuries sustained in the attack, with one subsequently discharged.
• Police have confirmed the attacker was 40-year-old Queensland man Joel Cauchi.
• In a statement Cauchi's family descibed his actions as "truly horrific" and said their thoughts and prayers were with those impacted.
• NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed that officers were investigating whether the Bondi Junction attacker was targeting women.
• Queensland Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said Cauchi had never been arrested by police in Queensland or charged with a criminal offence.

You can keep up-to-date on theABC News websiteand bysubscribing to our mobile news alerts.

Tonight landmarks across Victoria have been lit up in white in honour of the six victims who have died.

"In dark times, we must look for the light," Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said on X.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has requested that flags across the country fly at half-mast tomorrow.

Scentre Group, which owns and operates Westfield Bondi Junction, has paid tribute to its security guard Faraz Ahmad Tahir who was killed in Saturday's attack.

Chief Executive Officer Elliott Rusanow said Faraz died "while trying to protect the community".

"We are devastated by Faraz's passing and recognise our team member's bravery and role as a first responder," he said.

"Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all who are mourning the loss of loved ones.

"Our thoughts and concerns are also with the families and carers of those injured in the attack and the everyday heroes whose actions prevented further loss of life."

Mr Rusanow said another member of their security team was injured and remained in hospital.

"This news is deeply felt by our Westfield Bondi team, our security partner GLAD and the entire Scentre Group team," he said.

"We are providing mental health and counselling services for our customers, business partners and people.

"Our team continues to provide full assistance to the NSW emergency services response and investigations into yesterday's tragedy."

We are hearing more accounts from those who were in the centre at the time of the attack.

Jason Dixon said he was met with a confronting scene when he walked into the Wesfield at Bondi Jumction on Saturday afternoon behind NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.

He said the attacker, who has been identified asQueensland man Joel Cauchi,started running towards them.

"All I heard was 'Put it down' and then she shot him. Then she walked over and gave him CPR and she chucked the knife away," he said.

"If she didn't pull the trigger he would have kept going."

Mr Dickson saw three bodies on the floor that weren't moving.

He's adamant it wasInspector Amy Scott's decisive action that stopped more deaths.

"He looked like he was on a killing spree ... She did her duty and I'm proud of her, she did what she did."

Follow the link below to read the full story.

Catching up? Watch the video below to see the key moments and developments from througout the day following Saturday's attack at Bondi Junction.

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Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has paid tribute to Faraz Tahir.

The Australian Pakistani National Association (APNA) named Mr Tahir as the sole male killed in a post on Facebook on Sunday afternoon.

The 30-year-old Pakistani national was working as a security guard.

"Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with his family," Mr Chaudhri said on X.

"We are working with the family for reparation of his mortal remains to Pakistan."

Reporting by Nabil Al-Nashar

Security guard Taha Umar Khan has been identified as one of the stabbing victims who has been hospitalised after yesterday's attack.

He suffered knife-injuries and was taken to hospital where he is in a stable condition.

His colleague, 30-year old Faraz Tahir was killed in the attack, on his first day on the job.

Warning: Some readers may find the following details distressing.

Another Westfield security guard, who did not wish to be identified, told the ABC they were haunted by what had happened.

"I couldn't sleep yesterday because all of the faces are still stuck in my head and the smell of warm blood," the security guard who did not wish to be identified said.

They were upset by comments shared on social media blaming security guards for not stopping the carnage.

"No one had any idea what actually happened…they (Faraz) got killed for nothing like how much? $25 or $26?…he died."

"He wasn't even supposed to be there that day.

"He was covering somebody else's shift."

The security guard said Faraz was killed less than a couple of hours from wrapping up his shift and going home.

The security guard recounted the timeline of the harrowing scenes.

"There was blood everywhere," they said.

A female security guard was the first to sound the alarm, they said.

She issued a "code black" emergency message on the radio, alerting all of the guards to the man wielding the large knife, they said.

Security guards were some of the first responders running towards the danger, ushering panicked shoppers into stores, disabling lifts the attacker could have used to escape and most importantly tending to the wounded.

"There were a lot of people…in a way we can say we saved them by pushing them into the shops….we were helping people to evacuate to be safe," the security guard said.

As the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction unfolded yesterday, bystanders displayed incredible acts of bravery.

You can read more about it here.

Earlier today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns placed flowers at a makeshift memorial in Bondi Junction to commemorate the victims of the stabbing incident.

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Pikria Darchia has been confirmed as the fifth victim of yesterday's Bondi Junction attack.

The 55-year-old was an artist/designer who studied business administration at Sydney TAFE, according to her Linkedin profile.

She did a degree in performance art at the Tbilisi State Academy of Art in Georgia.

The ABC'S Melissa Mackay was at the makeshift memorial for the victims of the Bondi Junction attack earlier today.

About a dozen SES volunteers have paid their respects there, laying flowers and signing the condolence book.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has requested flags be flown at half-mast on all government buildings in honour of the six Bondi Junction victims.

The government says it's a sign of mourning and respect and other organisations are welcome to participate.

"As a mark of mourning and respect and in accordance with protocol, the Australian National Flag should be flown at half-mast onMonday, 15 April 2024from all buildings and establishments occupied by Australian Government departments and affiliated agencies," the Commonwealth Flag Officer said in a statement.

Members of the public can share their messages of condolence by filling out a form on the NSW government website.

The website states the book has been set up to honour all those impacted by yesterday's Bondi Junction attack, including the families and friends of those killed and injured as well as first responders.

Follow the link below for more information.

The family of Joel Cauchi family has descibed his actions as "truly horrific".

"We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday," his family said in a statement issued to the media via Queensland Police.

"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.

"We are in contact with both the New South Wales Police Force and Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the Police Officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is coping alright."

Queensland Police said his family had requested privacy.

Victims from Saturday's attack continue to be identified.

Among them is a "beautiful", "all round outstanding human", the 25-year-old daughter of a prominent businessman and a Pakistani national who sought refuge in Australia.

NSW Police has indicated it could be "some time" before all victims are identified, but we've put what we know about those who died into this explainer:

Reporting by Catherine Hanrahan.

The identity of the fourth victim in the Bondi Junction attack can be confirmed as Jade Young.

The Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club, where Ms Young was a member, has cancelled an event this evening, acknowledging the "difficult time for the community.'

Members were notified of the death this morning.

"In light of this weekend's tragedy, today's Sunday Sips at Bronte Surf Club is cancelled," the club wrote on Facebook.

"This is and will be a difficult time for the community, and we encourage you to seek support from family, friends, fellow Club members or to speak to your GP to assist you in processing this tragedy.

"We are here to support the community, and our heartfelt condolences go out to everyone affected

NSW Health has provided an update on the patients that were attacked at Bondi Junction.

• Four patients are at St Vincent's Hospital
• One male patient is in ICU in a critical but stable condition
• One female patient in in ICU in a stable condition
• Two female patients are in a stable condition
• Two patients are at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
• One female is in ICU in a critical condition and one male is in a stable condition on a ward
• Two female patients are in a stable condition at Prince of Wales Hospital
• One female patient is at St George Hospital in a stable condition
• One female child is at Sydney Children's Hospital in ICU and is in a critical but stable condition
• One female patient is at Royal North Shore Hospital in ICU in a serious but stable condition

NSW Health says one female patient has been discharged from Prince of Wales Hospital.

The AFL says it extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of all those impacted by the Sydney shopping centre tragedy, including the family of Ashlee Good, daughter of former North Melbourne player and club director Kerry Good.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says his thoughts and those of the entire football community are with the Good family and all families impacted by the attack.

"I know so many people who know Kerry and the family are hurting and the football world is united in its sympathy for the Good family and the many people across our North Melbourne and football community and the wider community who have been affected by this attack," Dillon says.

"You shudder when you hear the news on Saturday and find it hard to comprehend that an activity that is so normal and so common to every Australian family, could end so tragically.

"As a football person I know everyone across the football family will join the North Melbourne Football Club and their supporters in offering our condolences to all impacted by Saturday's attack, particularly Ashlee's partner Daniel Flanagan, Kerry and Dian, Ashlee's mother Denise, and Ashlee's extended family and friends."

Two more people, who were killed at Bondi Junction yesterday, have now been named.

Dawn Singleton, the daughter of prominent businessman John Singleton, has been named as one of the victims in the attack.

Australian fashion brand White Fox Boutique has paid tribute to Singleton, who was employed by the company, on its Instagram account.

The male victim who was a security guard at the Westfield has been identified asFaraz Tahir.

The Australian Pakistani National Association has shared the tragic news of Tahir's death in a statement on Facebook.