Recounting the horrifying incident of the fatal knife attack that took place in the Sydney mall on Saturday, an Indian-origin couple shared their experience of hiding in a backroom with several others. To ensure their safety from the knife-wielding attacker on a killing spree, they had to barricade themselves with cardboard boxes.
The attack resulted in the tragic loss of six lives before the police shot and killed the 40-year-old attacker.
Here is what you need to know about the Sydney mall attack:
On Saturday, at Sydney’s Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, at least six people were stabbed to death. The attacker was subsequently shot dead. Additionally, eight individuals, including a 9-month-old baby, sustained injuries.
According to the New South Wales police, a 40-year-old man is believed to be responsible for the attack.
The suspect entered the shopping centre at Bondi Junction around 15:10 local time, left briefly, and then returned ten minutes later. The suspect proceeded to move through the mall, as reported by the BBC.
However, the police stated that they could not disclose the attacker’s identity until formal identification had taken place. They also clarified that they were not currently treating the attack as terrorism-related.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb addressed the incident, stating, “We are confident that there is no ongoing risk, and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased.” She further emphasized that it was not a terrorism incident.
Webb also provided an update on the injured individuals, mentioning that they were receiving treatment at hospitals. As for the 9-month-old baby, they were undergoing surgery, but it was too early to determine their condition.
Shoi Ghoshal and Debashis Chakrabarty, an Indian-origin couple who were present at the Westfield shopping centre during the attack, shared their account with the BBC. They described how they were inside a store when they realized something was amiss. Ghoshal mentioned that they initially thought there was a fire due to people rushing into the store. However, they soon learned that someone was indiscriminately stabbing people. In order to protect themselves, they sought refuge in a backroom and used boxes to create a barricade.
