The Sydney shopping center where six people were killed in a stabbing attack reopened on Thursday, with saddened visitors walking past rows of still-shuttered shops to pay their respects to the victims. Shops will reopen as normal on Friday, almost a week after a 40-year-old man carried out a deadly attack at the sprawling Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex.
But Thursday's partial reopening was presented as an opportunity for shocked Sydneysiders to reflect. This allows us to express our solidarity, our condolences and to
“turn the page on what has been a very difficult period”
for the city, said the head of the New South Wales government, Chris Minns. It is, according to him, a
“first step towards healing”
. 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.