Man stabs six people to death at Sydney shopping mall

Six people have been killed and several others injured, including a child, in a mass stabbing at a busy shopping mall in Sydney, Australian police said.

Police were called to Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon local time following reports of multiple people stabbed. Witnesses described scene of panic with some forced to hide in shops as the attack unfolded.

Five people died at the scene and another died later from stab wounds at the hospital, a New South Wales police spokesperson said.

The suspect, who police said acted alone, was shot dead at the scene by a lone officer.

New South Wales Police’s Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said a senior police inspector was nearby when the attack unfolded.

She arrived on the scene first and was alone when she engaged with the attacker. She shot the offender when he raised a knife at her.

“She discharged her firearm, and that person is now deceased,” Cooke said.

An infant is reportedly among those stabbed by the attacker.

The attacker was said to have been to the shopping mall earlier, left and then returned to commence the killings.

The suspect encountered nine people after he entered the mall at 3:10pm local time, according to police. He left and re-entered the mall at 3:20pm before carrying out his attack.

No information has been given as to the perpetrator’s identity or a possible motive but Cooke said they were “not ruling anything out.”

After warning people to stay away from the area police say the incident is now over.