Sydney stabbing attacker who killed six people named as Joel Cauchi
He moved to Sydney only a month before the deadly attack.
The man who killed six people in a knife attack at a shopping centre in Australia has been named as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi.
He had moved to Sydney just a month before the attack at Westfield mall at Bondi Junction in the east of the city.
His family contacted authorities when they saw footage of the attack on television.
Cauci, from Queensland, was known to authorities, but had not been arrested or charged before he committed the attack on Saturday, police said.
He was identified by New South Wales police on Sunday after he was killed by a police officer.
The lone knifeman attacked shoppers on Saturday afternoon and police said they do not think the attack was motivated by terrorism.
Four women and a man in his 30s, a security guard at the shopping centre, died at the scene. One of the victims was Dr Ashlee Good, a mother whose last act was reportedly to thrust her nine-month-old baby to a stranger begging them to save her, after she was stabbed in her pram.
Queensland Police assistant commissioner Roger Lowe told reporters in Brisbane that Cauchi was ‘itinerant’, meaning he regularly travelled from place to place with no fixed address.
Mr Lowe said his force was assisting police in New South Wales with investigations.
‘He has been in contact with the police, primarily in the last four to five years would be the most contact we have had with him. During that contact we are aware that this individual has suffered from mental health,’ said Mr Lowe.
New South Wales police are investigating the man, who moved to Sydney a month before the attack, hiring a ‘very small’ storage container in Sydney which police have ‘worked through’.
The attacker’s family haver released a statement saying they have ‘no issue’ with the actions of the police officer who shot him dead, saying: ‘She was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is coming alright.’
They added: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time.
‘Joel’s action were truly horrific and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened. He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.’
The family were in contact with police and asked for privacy, the NZ Herald reported.
A statement from Ms Good’s family provided to Australian broadcaster ABC said baby Harriet, who was stabbed, is ‘doing well’.
‘Today we are reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human, and so much more,’ the statement said.
The 25-year-old daughter of Australian businessman John Singleton, Dawn, has been named as one of the victims by various media outlets. Two of the victims are from overseas and police are attempting to contact their families.
A further 11 people are receiving treatment in hospitals around Sydney for different injuries. A 12th casualty was discharged from hospital today.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the ‘extraordinary’ bravery of people at the shopping centre during the attack.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns called the attack ‘horrifying’ and praised the efforts of Amy Scott, the police inspector who ‘ran towards danger’ to shoot Cauchi, and ‘without a shadow of doubt, saved many, many lives’.
The shopping centre is being investigated by state and federal police and remained closed to the public.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.