On Monday, Australian authorities announced the commencement of an inquiry into the motivations of a 40-year-old man, reportedly suffering from mental illness, who seemed to specifically target women while carrying out a frenzied attack with a large knife at a Sydney shopping mall. The horrific incident resulted in the deaths of six individuals and left a dozen others injured.
Social media footage depicted Joel Cauchi, a disheveled individual, predominantly pursuing female victims as he rampaged through the bustling Westfield shopping complex in Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.
Out of the six fatalities, five were women, and the majority of the wounded were also females.
Commenting on the case, New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb remarked, “The videos speak for themselves, don’t they? That’s certainly a line of investigation for us. It is clear to me, and to the detectives, that this appears to be an area of interest— the perpetrator seemed to be targeting women while avoiding men.”
Webb emphasized that it is impossible for the authorities to ascertain the exact motives of the attacker, who was eventually shot and killed by a police officer.
Cauchi, according to his Facebook profile, hailed from Toowoomba near Brisbane and had studied at a local high school and university.
His parents disclosed that he had been grappling with mental health issues since his teenage years.
‘Facing the reality of a tragic situation’
Andrew Cauchi, the father of the assailant, expressed his profound distress and confusion over his son’s violent actions.
“This is an incredibly tragic situation, words fail to capture the sorrow. When I learned about my son’s mental illness, I dedicated myself to helping him,” stated the visibly distraught father. “I did everything within my capacity to support my son, but I am at a loss now. I am unable to do or say anything to undo the loss of lives.”
Andrew Cauchi speculated that his son primarily targeted women due to his desire for companionship, lack of social aptitude, and pent-up frustration.
“He may be perceived as a monster to the public, but to me, he was a suffering soul. He was my son, and I continue to love him,” he lamented.
The final victim of Joel Cauchi to be identified was Yixuan Cheng, a young Chinese student enrolled at the University of Sydney.
In response to the tragedy, Beijing urged the Australian authorities to provide optimal care for the wounded individuals and extended families of the victims.
China requested Australia’s full support in facilitating family travel arrangements to Australia for necessary proceedings and urged close monitoring of the investigation progress, as declared by foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
The other female casualties included a designer, a volunteer surf lifesaver, a businessperson’s daughter, and a recent mother whose infant daughter is currently hospitalized after sustaining injuries.
Tragically, the mother, 38-year-old Ashlee Good, entrusted her bleeding nine-month-old baby, Harriet, to strangers before being rushed to the hospital where she succumbed to her wounds.
Harriet is in serious condition but is anticipated to recover, indicated health officials.
The lone male victim was identified as 30-year-old security guard Faraz Tahir from Pakistan, who was on duty when he was attacked.
‘Overcoming a distressing ordeal’
Presently, eight wounded individuals remain under medical care following the assault, with some individuals in critical condition while four have been discharged within the past day.
The nearly half-hour assault orchestrated by Joel Cauchi was eventually halted when solo police inspector Amy Scott confronted and neutralized him.
Scott, hailed as a hero by law enforcement and political figures, is currently seeking solace with her family to cope with the aftermath of the profoundly distressing event, as confirmed by the state’s police chief.
It has been established that Joel Cauchi had traveled to Sydney approximately a month prior and had rented a storage unit in the city, containing personal effects such as a boogie board.
According to his parents, he had been residing in a vehicle and hostels and maintained sporadic communication with his family through text messages.
Amidst the mourning for the victims, floral tributes accumulated outside the Bondi shopping center.
National flags were lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect and remembrance.
As a gesture of solidarity, the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated with a black ribbon during the evening.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disclosed that he had extended his condolences to the families impacted by the devastating event.
“While the gender distribution of the victims is disconcerting, every life lost is a cause for mourning,” he conveyed to ABC radio, assuring a thorough investigation by the police.
New South Wales state premier Chris Minns confirmed a public coronial inquiry into the attack, which will delve into law enforcement response, criminal investigations, and the assailant’s past interactions with state healthcare organizations.
AFP