Shops will reopen as normal on Friday, almost a week after a deadly attack at the sprawling Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex. Throughout the week, many people left flowers in front of the mall, which was usually crowded with families shopping.
But on Thursday, the crowds are considerably reduced. Digital screens that once displayed flashy advertisements and maps to help customers navigate the labyrinthine complex have been replaced with pixelated black ribbons on a plain white background. In a hall, wreaths of white flowers frame a message of commemoration and a simple white table on which were bouquets and a book to allow visitors to leave a few words. It is, according to the head of the NSW government, Chris Minns, a "first step towards healing.'