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Acting NSW Premier Penny Sharpe has described Saturday’s mass stabbing attack at Bondi as “beyond distressing” and vowed as much information as possible would be shared with the public.
A lone 40-year-old man armed with a knife killed five people and injured at least eight more when he began his rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction at 3.20pm on Saturday.
The injured included a nine-month-old baby and her mother.
The mother later died in hospital, taking the death toll up to six.
Speaking outside Waverley Police Station on Saturday night, Ms Sharpe said she was “personally distressed” by the incident, and noted there were “more difficult days ahead” for those directly impacted by the attack, as well as the wider community.
“Today, New South Wales has experienced a distressing and horrific crime right here in one of the most ordinary of places, innocent people. Have been attacked at the local shopping centre,” she said.
“People enjoying the first day of the school holidays with their kids, people doing their ordinary shopping and their clothes shopping, and the workers who serve all of them. They have witnessed something horrific.
“But even worse, we have lost six innocent lives.”
Ms Sharpe shared her condolences to those affected by the horrific attack.
“Tonight we hold in our hearts the families and the friends and those who have lost loved ones,” she said.
“We stand with those who are waiting to hear. For those that have been injured. And we really stand by all of the medical staff who are fighting to save their lives.”
Ms Sharpe said she had convened the crisis cabinet, and was, along with the Prime Minister, receiving regular briefings from NSW Police.
Protocols to provide support to first responders had been activated, she said, and she vowed information would be regularly flowing to the public.
“We will be providing as much information as we can as soon as we can,” she said.
Premier Chris Minns, who had just arrived in Tokyo for a planned family holiday, had “not even left the airport”, Ms Sharpe said, and would be returning imminently, with his arrival expected on Saturday morning.
“I am horrified to hear about the events at Bondi Junction this afternoon,” Mr Minns said in a statement.
“I am making immediate arrangements to return to Sydney.
“I want to thank NSW Police, emergency services and first responders and the community for their bravery in the face of this shocking incident.”
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