Six dead and baby in surgery after multiple stabbings at Sydney mall, police say

It's now just after midnight in Sydney and 15:58 in London. We're going to be closing our live blog shortly, but before we go, we wanted to give one last update of everything that you need to know going into the evening.

As a reminder, we have been covering a multiple stabbing incident at a shopping centre in Sydney. Authorities in Australia will be providing another update on the ongoing investigation at 23:00 BST (08:00 local time).

Here is what we know so far:

• Six people were fatally stabbed by a knife-wielding suspect, who was shot dead by a senior police officer

• At least eight people are being treated for their injuries at hospitals around Sydney, including a nine-month-old baby who was last reported to be in surgery
• Authorities say the suspect is a 40-year-old man who acted alone, but are waiting for formal identification. They say it's "too early to speculate " about his motivations
• A senior female officer nearby to the scene was the first to respond and saw the suspect "lunge" at her before she shot him dead, police say
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and local authorities praised the "hero" police officer who confronted and shot the attacker, saying "it could have been much worse" if not for her actions
• Westfield Bondi Junction will remain closed tomorrow and the investigation will be "ongoing" for a number of days, police say

Today's multiple stabbing incident, where six people have died and several others were injured, is a day being described by Australia's prime minister as a "horrific act of violence".

But mass killing events such as this one are rare in the country.

For context, the country's deadliest mass shooting took place on 28 April 1996.

In that incident, Martin Bryant, a lone gunman, killed 35 people at a cafe and tourist site at the former colonial prison of Port Arthur.

He carried out the attack using military-style weapons he had bought without background checks.

Following this deadly massacre, Australia tightened its gun laws.

The country has had only a few mass shootings since 1996, including the murder-suicide of a family of five in 2014, and the deaths of seven people - including four children - from gunshot wounds at a rural property in southwest Australia in 2018.

In more recent history, in 2019, at least four people were killed in a shooting in Darwin.

As we heard earlier from commissioner Karen Webb, the suspect in the attack today at the Westfield shopping centre was described as being a 40-year-old male who was "known to police".

An image appears to show the suspect at the shopping centre in Sydney, walking up an elevator carrying an unidentified object. The same man is visible in other videos circulating on social media. Here's everything else that we know about the suspected attacker:

• The male suspect was shot dead by a senior officer, after he reportedly lunged at her brandishing a knife
• She then attempted CPR on the attacker, who later died, authorities say
• Officers believe they have identified the attacker as a 40-year-old man, but were waiting to officially confirm his identity
• If the man is who they believe him to be, then police did not consider the motive to be terrorism, Webb says
• "We are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased," commissioner Webb has also said
• The specific weapon used in the attack has not been confirmed, police say

Shoi Ghoshal from Sydney tells the BBC how she was at the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction with her husband Debashis Chakrabarty earlier today when the attack started to unfold.

She describes how they were inside a store when it became clear something was wrong.

“Suddenly we heard some people rushing inside the store. We thought a fire had broken out but people were saying someone is stabbing rampantly," the 36-year-old says.

“We went into a backroom, a storeroom, and used boxes to barricade ourselves in," she says, estimating that there were between 20 to 25 people huddling inside.

“An elderly woman was crying for her husband who was still on the outside," she says, explaining how when the group made calls to the police, they relayed to them what was happening and told them to "stay there, stay calm."

The group was later evacuated through the emergency exit of the mall, where they were met with the sight of a swarm of police cars.

“It was just beyond horrible. It plays on your mind that you could have been one of victims. We are grateful we are safe and our thoughts are with those who have suffered. It is terrible for their families.”

BBCCopyright: BBC

One of the details that emerged from the press briefing earlier with New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb was one about the "brave" officer who shot the attacker dead.

She made a point of emphasising how that officer's actions directly prevented today's attack from being "much worse".

The senior officer, who has not been identified, was described as being "enormously courageous".

Webb has said that the officer is "doing well under the circumstances" and that she is getting the attention she needs. The officer will be formally interviewed tomorrow, she adds.

Shopkeepers and shoppers, the commissioner has said, should also be praised for the bravery they displayed at the Westfield centre.

Footage from the busy shopping centre has shown how some bystanders attempted to block off the attacker, while witnesses have described how shopkeepers acted quickly to lock their doors and help people hide.

"Many of the shopkeepers and people within the shopping centre showed amazing courage and bravery. So, it was an awful situation and no doubt people are dealing with the trauma of what they witnessed but it could have been much worse."

These comments from the commissioner echoed those of Prime Minister Albanese who similarly praised the actions of those at the scene.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are commending the bravery of first responders displayed in today's "senseless attack" in Bondi, adding that the loved ones and families of those impacted by the incident are in their thoughts.

"My wife and I were utterly shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic stabbing incident in Bondi," the King has said in a statement.

"Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack," he says.

"While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services."

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

We've recently just heard from New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who as we reported earlier is stuck at the airport in Tokyo waiting to board a flight home to Sydney.

The premier has just released a voice memo on his X account, formerly Twitter, where he talks with a local radio host about the "terrible violent crime" that will go down as "truly a shocking day in the state's history".

"It's literally everyone's worst nightmare," Minns is heard saying, as he goes on to share how his "heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones today" and the "many, many families who will be grieving tonight".

He explains to the local radio host how he's just hopped off a call with the crisis policy committee of New South Wales, alongside acting premier Penny Sharpe, where they received a briefing from the police commissioner.

"This is shocking and I can understand that people will be grieving and very angry for the next few days but we will recover, we'll be strong," he says, before commending the "exemplary courage from the public" that the state has witnessed "in the midst of a violent wicked crime".

"I'm very grateful that the best of us have stood up in the face of such wickedness," he adds.

The acting premier of New South Wales (NSW) has just briefed the media and has said that she convened a “crisis cabinet” this evening with a range of ministers.

Penny Sharpe adds that NSW premier Chris Minns, who has not left Tokyo airport since hearing of this incident hours earlier, was also on the call.

"We have lost six innocent lives, and tonight there are medical staff working around the clock to try to save the lives of at least eight others," she says.

She highlights how this attack could've been much more dangerous given the high number of people out on the street, as the incident coincided with the first day of the school holidays.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, had previously posted on X saying he was making “immediate” arrangements to return to Sydney.

The Prince and Princess of Wales say they are "shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney".

William and Catherine say in a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, that their "thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost".

The pair went on to extend their appreciation to the "heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others".

A lot has unfolded in the hours since we first began reporting on the multiple stabbings that sent waves of panic rippling through a busy Sydney shopping centre at about 16:00 local time (07:00 BST).

We've just had briefings from federal Australian officers, as well as the commissioner for the New South Wales police - who will be the lead investigators in this incident. Here's everything else that you need to know:

• Six people were fatally stabbed by a knife-wielding suspect, who was shot dead by a senior police officer
• Four females and one male died at the scene, while a fifth woman died from her injuries at hospital, police say
• Eight people are being treated for their injuries at hospitals around Sydney, including a nine-month-old baby who was last reported to be in surgery
• Authorities say the suspect is a 40-year-old man, but are waiting for formal identification and say it's "too early to speculate" about his motivations

• Police say the suspect entered the shopping centre at Bondi Junction at around 15:10 local time and then left "very shortly after" before returning ten minutes later and moving through the mall
• A senior female officer nearby to the scene was the first to respond and saw the suspect "lunge" at her before she shot him dead, police say
• That officer, who has been praised by Prime Minister Albanese as a "hero", conducted CPR until the arrival of paramedics but he could not be revived

• Westfield Bondi Junction will remain closed tomorrow and the investigation will be "ongoing" for a number of days

• Police believe the suspect acted alone and that there is no ongoing risk to the public

BBCCopyright: BBC

Huma Hussainy and Mohamad Naveed spent 45 terrifying minutes hiding in a store change room.

“I’m still in shock,” Huma tells me, her voice still shaking.

She had come metres from the attacker outside a Lululemon store. He was holding a big knife the length of a forearm, she says.

And behind him were two young women lying on the ground, covered in blood.

Huma recounts seeing a woman trying to rouse one of them: “[She] was not moving.”

And she details her fear at hearing a gunshot - which she did not know came from police.

“I thought this guy… has a gun as well.”

BBCCopyright: BBC

Olinda Nemer was another one of the people at the Westfield Bondi Junction earlier today who was forced to flee the suspected attacker wielding a knife, describing the scene as "so scary".

"I didn’t see him stabbing people, but I saw him running with the knife," she says.

"People were just running, screaming. At first we didn’t know what was happening, so we were running with everyone."

The 22-year-old says she ran into "a random store" with others and closed the door behind her. Several people, she says, called the police from inside.

“Within 10 minutes the police were here, maybe less."

One of the other lines that Commissioner Webb was specifically asked about throughout the press briefing was whether or not police believe today's attacks were targeted.

As we reported earlier, we now know five of the six victims killed were women.

Reporters asked Commissioner Webb a few times if the attacker had deliberately targeted any particular people in the shopping centre, with one asking specifically: "Five of those victims were women. Did that play a role in the motive?"

Webb replies that police at this time "don't know" and adds that it is again "too early to speculate".

Police would be investigating the man's background, she adds.

"Given the environment, it is possible that it is random, but it is too early to speculate."

The press briefing with Commissioner Webb has just wrapped, but there are some more details that are worth highlighting.

The commissioner has just confirmed that the investigation will be thorough and notes that it will "be ongoing for many, many days".

In response to a reporter asking why police are confident it is not terror-related she had this to say: "There are elements that we understand at this point in time that don't indicate that, but as we move into the investigation, and background of this person- his home, vehicle, associates, we will only know at that time."

Commissioner Webb is now going into the details that police know about the offender and say he was a 40-year-old man who was known to police.

"We know a little bit about this person but are waiting to confirm his identification," she says.

She adds that police do not have fears that he was "holding an ideation - in other words it is not a terrorism incident. He is known to law enforcement," she adds.

"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," Commissioner Webb says.

New South Wales Police Commissioner says Westfield Bondi Junction will be closed tomorrow and that the investigation will be "ongoing" for a number of days.

Karen Webb adds that officers have secured the crime scene, which is "expansive".

Video has emerged showing the suspected attacker walking up an escalator, carrying a weapon in his hand.

A member of the public can be seen at the top of the elevator, carrying a barrier.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb says that there are eight people in hospitals being treated for different injuries, including a nine-month-old infant who is currently being treated in surgery.

When asked how the baby is doing, she answers the last update they have is the surgery is ongoing.