The reasons for his action remain particularly unclear, the day after the killing. On Saturday, Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old man, killed six people and injured several others in a knife attack in the vast Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex in Sydney before being shot dead by a police officer.
“At this stage, we have no element, no information, no proof or no intelligence to suggest that it is a particular motivation, an ideology or other” for his act, Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales State Police, Anthony Cooke, explained this Sunday.
“His mental health has deteriorated”
“We know that the attacker suffered from mental health problems,” he told the deputy commissioner, specifying that the man, known to the police, had come from the state of Queensland in the north-east of the country. . (northeast) last month. According to initial information, he received psychiatric treatment in 2012.
“This man was diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 17 and has received treatment over the years,” police said, adding: “According to our investigations...In the last few years alone, his mental health has deteriorated. »
Upon arrival in Sydney, Cauchi allegedly rented a "small storage unit" in Sydney which was searched overnight by investigators. Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Roger Lowe said Cauchi had not been prosecuted or charged with any offense in Queensland, including domestic violence.
Knives confiscated last year?
However, according to local media, Joel Cauchi in 2020 in two Facebook groups looked for “groups of people who shoot firearms, including handguns, to meet, discuss and get to know each other”. “Please DM me if you can help!” By the way, I live in Brisbane.” In 2023, Cauchi's family reportedly confiscated his knives.
“The attacker appears to have acted alone,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference. “For all of us this evening, the appalling scenes at Bondi Junction are beyond words and beyond comprehension,” he said, paying tribute to the bravery of the passers-by who helped each other and the police officer who intervened, defying the hazard. “She is certainly a hero. She undoubtedly saved lives by doing so,” he continued.
The death toll from this attack was five women and one man. In addition, twelve people were transported to hospital, including a 9-month-old baby who is in “serious but stable” condition, according to police. Her mother died from her injuries.