The Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center in Sydney where six people were killed in a stabbing attack on Saturday reopened its doors on Thursday. Stores will reopen as normal on Friday, but the partial reopening the day before was presented as an opportunity for shocked Sydneysiders to reflect.
Dozens of saddened visitors came to pay tribute to the victims, in front of the rows of still closed shops. Digital screens that once displayed flashy advertisements have been replaced by pixelated black ribbons on a plain white background. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "Yes, we certainly will" offer citizenship to Pakistani security guard Muhammad Taha, who was injured in the attack. The two men put themselves in danger to protect Australians they did not know, "it is to this kind of courage that we want to say thank you," insisted Albanese, who called the killing of Faraz Tahir a "tragedy" and praised Taha for "confronting" the assailant.