SYDNEY: Hundreds of people were evacuated from a busy shopping centre in Sydney on Saturday (Apr 13) after reports of multiple people stabbed.
The incident occurred at the sprawling Westfield Bondi Junction mall complex, which has been locked down.
New South Wales Ambulance told AFP one man had been shot dead by police. He is believed to be one of the attackers.
The motive was not immediately clear.
“A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of (a) male at Bondi Junction,” New South Wales police said in a post on X.
“Just before 4pm … emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed. People are urged to avoid the area.”
Two witnesses told Reuters they heard shots fired.
“Even 20 minutes after people were rushed out of the mall, I saw SWAT teams of people sweeping the surrounding streets,” one of the witnesses said.
One witness said they saw a woman lying on the ground and took shelter in a jewellery store.
Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.
