Westfield Bondi Junction announces reopening date after six people were killed in terrifying rampage

Westfield Bondi Junction will reopen to the public on Thursday, almost a week after six people were stabbed to death.

The busy shopping center in Sydney’s east will reopen its doors for a ‘quiet’ community reflection day, with the public invited to walk through the complex and pay their respects to the five women and a Westfield security guard killed by Joel Cauchi on Saturday during the fatal shooting. disaster.

Retailers will remain closed for trading on Thursday.

Many retailers will reopen as normal on Friday, although some have chosen to remain closed.

Counseling services will be available for anyone struggling to come to terms with the devastating tragedy.

“A lot of thought has gone into our plans to reopen the center in a way that is respectful of the victims, their families and all those in the community who are grieving.” Scentre Group CEO Elliott Rusanow told reporters.

‘This has been a very difficult time and I would like to acknowledge the hard work and effort, the tireless efforts of our Westfield Bondi team and the wider Scentre Group team in working tirelessly in our reopening planning and working through circumstances that have been deeply devastating in their minds and in the minds of all of us.

There will be a special memorial site in the center where the public can place flowers and tributes, complementing the growing shrine outside Westfield.

Digital billboard screens normally used for advertising will instead display a black ribbon as a symbol of remembrance and mourning.

“The center will be peaceful and provide space for reflection as community members can come to pay their respects,” Mr Rusanow said.

“That peaceful environment will continue on Friday and beyond, in other words to pay our respects for what happened here.

“Some retailers will choose not to reopen, and there will be their choice on that day and it will be their choice when they do open.”

Elliott Rusanow, CEO of Scentre Group, announced that Westfield will reopen for trading on Friday

Security will be stepped up at the center after Westfield security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, was among those killed during his first week at Bondi Junction.

“There will be an increased security presence, there will be an increase in the equipment that the guards will have to wear, but more importantly, there will be an increased police presence,” Mr Rusanow said.

The other victims were new mother Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, the daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton, mother of two Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27.

Several others were also injured and remain in hospital, including Ms Good’s nine-month-old daughter, Harriet.

A number of the victim’s families visited the growing shrine outside Westfield on Tuesday, including Ms Good’s parents, who collected some of the teddy bears left for their young granddaughter, who was also stabbed in the attack.

“I was with those families yesterday, it was a very emotional experience and we had the opportunity to provide the moment of reflection while the center remains closed,” Mr Rusanow said.

“We are working with the families of all the victims on how we support them both financially and non-financially as they grieve and move on from the tragedy that occurred here on Saturday.”

There will be extra security in place when Westfield Bondi Junction reopens later this week