The police officer who confronted and shot dead a knifeman who killed five bystanders in a busy shopping center and then performed CPR on injured victims has been hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Five shoppers are dead while four others, including a nine-month-old baby, were rushed to hospital after the terrifying rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney’s east on Saturday afternoon. A fifth victim has since died in hospital.
A female senior police inspector who arrived on the scene within minutes risked her own life by confronting the knifeman alone on the top floor of the mall.
She fatally shot the attacker when he turned to her and raised his knife.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said of the officer: “She is doing well considering the circumstances. She will have to be formally interviewed. She has everything she needs. She was the first officer on the scene.
“She’s a very senior officer.”
The police officer (pictured holding the knifeman) has been hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
The attacker was seen running through the mall with a knife in his hand
The officer then performed CPR on the man and when she was unable to revive him, she rushed to the injured bystanders lying outside a nearby store, where she performed more CPR.
The hero officer is an inspector with the NSW Police Force
“She made contact immediately when she arrived on the scene,” Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters.
“The officer was led to the perpetrator’s location by people from the center and she took the actions she did, which saved the lives of several people.”
Shocked bystanders recalled the officer’s heroic actions.
“All she said was, ‘Put it down.’ Just once,” Jason Dixon told reporters.
“Then she shot him in the chest and he fell.
“When he fell to the ground, she was resuscitating him.”
Hussein Osseili described how he was in Westfield with his six-year-old sister and grandmother when he heard gunshots and immediately knew what they were.
‘I just thought I had to get my family to safety. I told them to leave,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Then on the escalator in front of Woolies I saw a man with a large hunting knife about a foot long.
“He went PST Zara and KMart, he was waving the knife and stabbing people. He went to Level 5 and then I heard more police gunshots. Luckily my family is all safe.’
The stabbing took place at the Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre, which was locked down just before 4pm on Saturday
Police and ambulance personnel arrived on the scene earlier today
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has launched a critical incident in the police officer’s courageous actions.
“The NSWPF is investigating the circumstances of the incident and this investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command,” a statement said.
Mr Albanese held a brief press conference in Canberra on Saturday evening to address the tragedy, where he highlighted the bravery of the police officer who shot the knifeman dead.
“She took part in the procedure that took place there, which was clearly very dangerous, on her own,” she said.
‘She’s definitely a hero. There is no doubt that she saved lives through her actions.
“Today we remember that the people who wear uniforms are people who rushed towards danger, not away from it.”
Police have not yet identified the attacker but believe he acted alone. They have not ruled out terrorism.