Bondi Junction attack live updates: Sydney reeling after stabbing attack leaves multiple dead, critically injured in city’s eastern suburbs

NSW Premier Chris Minns has flown back to Sydney from a family holiday in Japan. We are expecting to hear from him later this morning.

Minns joined Ben Fordham on 2GB Radio yesterday from Tokyo.

“This is a terrible, violent crime and my heart goes out to those that have lost loved ones,” Minns said. “It’s a truly shocking day in the state’s history.”

He said he had been briefed by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and senior health officials had also provided an update about the wounded in hospital.

“I can understand that people will be grieving and very angry for the next few days, but we will recover, we’ll be strong,” Minns said.

“In the midst of a violent, wicked crime, we’ve seen some examples of exemplary courage from the public and, in particular, NSW Police.”

He described the tragedy as “everyone’s worst nightmare”.

“I feel terrible for those who have gone through so much heartache,” Minns said.

“The entire state is behind them. We’ve all been touched by how shocking this is.”

The state government had previously advised Minns would be on leave for two weeks, from April 13 to 24. Minns said he had landed and turned around upon hearing the news.

A reminder that police will be holding a press conference at 8am, and we will have all of those updates here.

King Charles issued a statement overnight, saying he and Queen Camilla were “utterly shocked and horrified” to hear about the Bondi Junction attack.

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack,” the statement said.

“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.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, also sent their condolences, saying they were “shocked and saddened” by the events in Sydney.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others,” they posted to X.

Pope Francis also expressed his sadness at the “senseless tragedy”, offering his “spiritual closeness” to all those affected and prayers for the dead and injured.

The message was contained in a telegram to Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher and sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos was interviewed overnight on Sky News UK.

She paid tribute to the “everyday heroes” who ran towards the danger to protect each other and to help other people during the Bondi Junction attack.

“It shows you what an incredible community we are here in Waverley,” she said, paying particular tribute to the lone police officer who approached and shot the attacker, as well as to a man who confronted the attacker on the shopping centre’s escalators.

“These demonstrations of heroism are truly awe-inspiring,” Masselos said.

“She (the police officer) was there on her own and she went towards the danger. Even [after she shot the attacker], she immediately began applying CPR – that just shows you the dedication of the person and her incredible act of heroism – even then her main concern was for someone who had fallen.”

Masselos said that when you went out shopping, “you expect to go home to your family and six people tonight won’t be tonight,” adding that the Bondi Junction shopping centre wasn’t just a place to shop but also a local meeting point for many young people.

“I will be reaching out to the various service providers and to the police to see what practical support we can offer as a council,” she said.

“This isn’t something that is part of our experience at all – it’s left a lot of people in shock and disbelief. It’s so senseless.”

Much of the praise in the aftermath of the attack fell on a lone NSW Police officer, who ran into the shopping centre, found the offender and shot him dead.

The officer is a high-ranking inspector in the local police district, the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command. She has been in the job for more than a decade.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the officer “showed enormous courage and bravery”.

The officer is “doing well under the circumstances”, Webb said.

You can read the full story on the officer’s bravery from Sally Rawsthorne here.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said last night that the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction was not being treated as an act of terrorism.

Fronting the media at the Waverley police station, Webb said the attacker, who was shot dead by a female police officer, was a 40-year-old man who had had previous interactions with the police.

While police were yet to formally identify the attacker or to release his name, Webb said police knew enough about him to rule out terrorism.

“If he is the person that we believe, then we don’t have fears of that person holding an ideation. In other words, it’s not a terrorism incident,” Webb said.

You can read more from last night’s press conference with Webb here.

We hope to bring you more information on yesterday’s attack as it comes to hand. A police press briefing – scheduled for the Sydney Police Centre in Goulburn Street at 8am – should shed more light. In the meantime, here is what we know so far.

What happened in Bondi Junction? A man murdered six people by stabbing them with a knife inside Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday afternoon. The attacker was shot dead by police.

How did it start? Police say CCTV footage shows the attacker walked into Bondi Junction Westfield about 3.20pm and “engaged with” nine people as he moved through, “causing harm”.

Who has been harmed? Six people are confirmed dead, plus the attacker. NSW Ambulance said they took eight patients to various hospitals. A nine-month-old baby was among the injured.

Who was the attacker? NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said he was a 40-year-old who was known to police but not believed to have held terrorist beliefs. He has not been formally identified. Police are confident he acted alone.

What happens next? Police have promised a “lengthy and precise” investigation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has discussed the incident with Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and the director-general of ASIO, Mike Burgess.

We have an extended version of this post here.

Good morning, and thanks for joining us for our rolling coverage of the mass killing at Westfield Bondi Junction.

Our hearts go out to everyone across Sydney as we come to terms with yesterday’s horrific events.

Today, we expect to learn more about the victims caught up in the attack, as well as find out more about the attacker.

Here’s where we stand this morning.

• The attacker was identified by police last night as a 40-year-old man. He is known to police, but NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the attack was not believed to be terror-related. She said police believed the man acted alone.
• Six people – five women and one man – died in the knife attack.
• Eight people were hospitalised, including a nine-month-old baby, with injuries varying from serious to critical. The baby’s mother is among those confirmed to have died.

There will be a police briefing at 8am.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest information as it comes to hand.

Note that crisis support is available for anyone affected by the events in Bondi Junction. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

NSW Acting Premier Penny Sharpe and Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos have also said special support would be offered to those affected by the tragedy. We will publish that information when it comes to hand.