‘Obvious’ Sydney killer targeted women – Australian police

The man who went on a stabbing rampage in a Sydney shopping center appears to have targeted women, police say.

Joel Cauchi, 40, caused panic at the crowded Westfield Bondi Junction complex on Saturday when he started stabbing people with a long blade.

Five of the six people who died were women. Several other people, including a baby, were injured.

The New South Wales Police Commissioner told Australia’s ABC News it was “obvious” Mr Cauchi was focusing on women.

The man killed was security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, who was trying to intervene in the attack. He was a refugee who had only been in Australia “for a short period of time”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Triple M radio on Monday.

“The videos speak for themselves, don’t they?” said Commissioner Karen Webb.

“It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to the detectives… that the offender focused on women and avoided men.

“We don’t know what was operating in the offender’s mind and that’s why it’s important now that detectives spend as much time interviewing those who know him.”

Mr Albanese also told ABC News that “the gender split is, of course, a concern.”

Authorities had previously said the attack was most likely “related to the mental health” of Mr. Cauchi, who was shot and killed by a lone police officer on Saturday.

He was already known to police but had never been arrested or charged in his home state of Queensland. He had been living on the move for several years and was first diagnosed with mental illness at 17, Queensland Police said.

The attack – in one of the country’s largest and most popular shopping malls – shocked Australia, where mass killings are rare.

Flags across the country were at half-mast on Monday and the sails of the Sydney Opera House will be lit in tribute to the victims.

Crowds of mourners also gathered at Bondi Junction, leaving flowers and cards for those killed in the attack.

Ashlee Good, 38, was stabbed while trying to protect her nine-month-old baby daughter, who was also injured and underwent emergency surgery. After hours of emergency surgery, his condition improved significantly, state officials said.

“Out of the darkest times sometimes comes the brightest lights and this is something our entire country has been holding our breath for,” Health Minister Ryan Park said Monday.

Police also named architect Jade Young, 47, and Pikria Darchia, 55, as victims, while Dawn Singleton, 25, was identified by local media.

Mr Albanese confirmed that Cheng Yixuan, a Chinese student who was studying in Australia, was the latest victim.