Sydney knife attack: Who are 6 victims of mass stabbing
Following the tragic mass stabbing at the Westfield shopping center in Sydney's Bondi Junction, Australia on Saturday, the identities of the six victims have been revealed. Joel Cauchi from Queensland fatally stabbed five women and one man on Saturday, while injuring 12 others, including an infant. New South Wales (NSW) police reported that eight of the injured were women.
Victims of the Sydney stabbing incident identified
Among the victims was Faraz Tahir, a 30-year-old Pakistani refugee who was working his first day as a security guard at the shopping center. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Australia mourned his loss, describing him as a "cherished member of our community". Ashlee Good, a 38-year-old mother who sacrificed herself to protect her nine-month-old baby, and Dawn Singleton, a 25-year-old woman from a well-known family were also among those tragically killed.
Further details on the victims of Sydney stabbing
Jade Young, a 47-year-old architect and mother of two, was also fatally wounded in the attack. The Bronte Surf Club community, where she was an active member, expressed their condolences on Facebook. Pikria Darchia, a 55-year-old artist and designer from Tbilisi, Georgia also lost her life in the incident. Darchia had previously studied business administration at TAFE NSW. The final victim was Yixuan Cheng, a 25-year-old student at the University of Sydney.
Condition of hospitalized victims and assailant's capture
NSW Health has been providing updates on the condition of the hospitalized victims. Some have been discharged, while eight remain under treatment in various Sydney medical facilities. The patients' conditions range from stable to serious but stable. The attacker, Cauchi, was neutralized by a police officer at the scene. NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke revealed that Cauchi had a history of mental health issues and clarified that the incident was not being treated as terrorism-related.
Survivors share harrowing experiences of the attack
Survivors of the attack shared their harrowing experiences. Among them were Shoi Ghoshal and her husband Debashis Chakrabarty, an Indian-origin couple who hid with around 20 to 25 other people in a backroom, using cardboard boxes as makeshift shields. They were later safely evacuated through the mall's emergency exit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commended the officer who neutralized Cauchi, labeling her a "hero" whose actions prevented further casualties.
Such attacks are rare in Australia
Notably, such attacks are rare in Australia, which has some of the world's strictest gun and knife laws. In April 1996, a gunman, Martin Bryant, murdered 35 individuals at a former prison colony and tourist attraction in Tasmania using semi-automatic weapons. This mass shooting became known as the Port Arthur massacre, and it marked a watershed moment for Australia. The event sparked widespread outrage and led to Australia enacting some of the world's strictest firearm laws.
