Stabbing rampage at Sydney mall leaves at least seven dead, including attacker (video)

The knifeman was shot dead by a female police officer

Seven people have died, and several others are in serious or critical condition following a stabbing rampage at a mall in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, as reported by the police. The assailant, who was shot by a lone officer and was among the deceased, also injured a baby during the attack.

During a news conference, New South Wales Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke stated that the attacker entered the Westfield Bondi Junction mall around 3:20 p.m. local time (1:20 a.m. ET) and proceeded to harm approximately nine people by stabbing them with a weapon he carried, likely a knife.

The knifeman who killed five women and one man during a rampage in Sydney today was 'known to police'

A spokesperson for New South Wales Ambulance informed NBC News that a nine-month-old baby sustained a pediatric stab wound and was taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Cooke mentioned that an inspector, guided by members of the public, located the assailant on the premises. As she pursued him, the attacker turned around, prompting the officer to shoot him, a decisive action that saved lives, according to Cooke.

Knife-wielding man is seen chasing shoppers inside Bondi Westfield

While the attacker's motives remain unclear, Cooke emphasized that the assailant acted alone and that there is no ongoing threat.

During the same news conference, NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Brent Armitage mentioned that two additional individuals were transported to various hospitals across Sydney, with their conditions currently unknown.

Shoppers run though Bondi Junction as police lock down the centre following reports of a major incident

Surveillance footage captured a man with a long knife running through the mall. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as some shoppers fled, while others tried to intervene. Some stores closed their shutters, protecting those inside.

Hundreds were evacuated from the mall, with one witness outside recounting how he assisted a baby after its mother was stabbed. Another witness, Roi Huberman, recounted sheltering in a store during the incident.

Shoppers enjoying a day out today were evacuated from the mall

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as a "horrific act of violence" that targeted innocent people. He offered condolences to the bereaved and expressed gratitude for the police officer's heroic actions, acknowledging that she saved lives.