At least six people were killed and several others on Saturday were injured after a knifeman went on a stabbing spree in a busy shopping mall in Australia's Sydney, causing the crowds gathered at the mall to flee the spot. According to the local media, gunshots could be heard inside Westfield Mall located at Bondi junction, BBC News reported. The crowds fled after reports of multiple stabbings and possible shootings triggered a major police response today.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as they fled the mall. A woman who saw a wounded woman lying on the floor stated "It was insanity."
Another eyewitness who was sitting neae a cafe with his two minor children stated that he saw a man "stabbing people indiscriminately".
An eyewitness told ABC News Australi that "It was carnage," the report stated.
After reports of multiple stabbing, a critical incident had been declared following the shooting of a male, the report noted. In view of the incident, people were urged to avoid the area around the mall and the area was evacuated. Ambulances and police vehicles also rushed to the spot, the report stated.
The accused had visited the mall at 15:10 local time after which he returned to the mall a few minutes later and began his rampage, BBC reported.
The reason behind why he attacked people in the shopping centre is not known yet, but police say terrorism has not been ruled out yet as a possible motive.
The rampage was brought to an end after a female police officer, who was on duty neaby confronted the man. Although he tried to attack her with his knife, he was unsuccessful as she shot him down, the report stated.
Another unnamed eyewitness stated that he heard "people yelling and screaming, running" and began following the officer.
Recalling how the man was shot by the cop, the eyewitness said that the accused was armed with a "big blade" started "floating towards us and all I heard was 'put it down' and then she shot him".
"If she didn't shoot him, well, he would have kept going, he was on the rampage," BBC quoted the eyewitness as saying.
Described the officer as a "hero" Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "For all of us tonight, the devastating scenes of Bondi Junction are beyond words or understanding."
The Westfield mall is a major shopping centre located in the east of Sydney's central business district, close to the famous Bondi Beach in Australia. It is the most popular shopping centres in the country and was jampacked with people, including young children and women.
Another 33-year-old eyewitness Johnny, who was visiting from the New South Wales Central Coast, told BBC that he heard a commotion while he was shopping and turned to see a woman and her baby being attacked by the knifeman.