The suspect responsible for the fatal stabbing of six people and injuring more than a dozen others at a shopping center in Australia has been identified as Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old man with a history of mental health issues. The tragic incident took place at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, New South Wales.
New South Wales police confirmed that Cauchi, who suffered from mental illness, carried out the attack, resulting in the deaths of five women and one man. Among the injured was a 9-month-old baby whose mother tragically lost her life while protecting her child during the violent spree.
While the attack is not being treated as terrorism-related, authorities revealed that Cauchi had been battling mental health issues since his teenage years. Reports suggest that he struggled with schizophrenia, and his condition worsened over the past five years due to drug use, including methamphetamine and psychedelics.
Additionally, it was discovered that Cauchi had a profile on a website for soliciting sex work, although he did not post explicit images of himself. The responding police officer, identified as Inspector Amy Scott, was hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for swiftly neutralizing the threat and preventing further loss of life.
Cauchi's family, in a statement, expressed their condemnation of his actions and acknowledged the necessity of the officer's intervention to protect others. They emphasized that they had no objections to the fatal shooting of Cauchi in order to safeguard the public.
