by The man who killed six people in a busy Sydney shopping center was a male escort known to authorities for previous disturbing behavior including an unusual interest in knives.
The attacker was identified as Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old who was sleeping outside after moving from Queensland to Sydney, where he was shot dead on Saturday.
In a statement released on Sunday, his parents Andrew and Michele described their son’s actions as “truly appalling”.
“We are devastated by the traumatic events that took place in Sydney yesterday,” they said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those who are still receiving treatment at this time.
“We are in contact with both the NSW Police Force and the Queensland Police Service and we have no problem with the police officer who shot our son because she was doing her job to protect others and we hope she is deal properly.”
Inspector Amy Scott shot Cauchi after he stabbed her with the knife he had previously used to injure 17 people inside Westfield in Bondi Junction – including a baby girl who was being pushed by her mother, Dr Ashley Good.
Dr Good, an osteopath remembered by his family as an “outstanding person”, died in hospital on Saturday night. Her daughter remained in hospital on Sunday after undergoing surgery.
Dr Good’s family described her as a “beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, wonderful person and so much more”.
They said in a statement: “To the two men who looked after and cared for our baby when Ashlee was unable – words cannot express our gratitude.” The baby, named Harriet, was said to be recovering well after a lengthy surgery.
Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, hailed Inspector Scott as an “undoubted hero” who “saved lives through his actions”.
Five other victims – four women and a male security guard – were killed inside the shopping centre.
They include architect Jade Young, 47, and Dawn Singleton, 25, who worked as an e-commerce assistant, and is the daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton.
Ms Singleton was due to marry her high school boyfriend, Ashley Wildey, Australia’s Daily Telegraph reported. She had bought her wedding dress days before she was killed and was sending out invitations.
Faraz Tahir, 30, from Pakistan, was on his first shift at Westfield when he was fatally stabbed.
Cauchi’s family contacted police after seeing news footage of the attacker, who police said would only “text his mother from time to time with an update on his whereabouts”.
As Australians reeled from the deaths, questions arose about the man’s motivations and past interactions with authorities and psychiatrists..
Initial reports on social media falsely linked the attack to events in the Middle East but New South Wales Police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke said: “There is nothing so far – we have received no information, we have received no evidence, any information we have gathered – that would suggest this was motivated by motivation, ideology or otherwise.”
Cauchi did not have a criminal record but was known to police and government health agencies for periods of erratic behavior since he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17.
Roger Lowe, Queensland’s assistant police commissioner, said officers in that state recorded their last interaction with Cauchi during a street check on the Gold Coast in December.
In a separate incident, officers were called to his home in 2023 after he had a dispute with his family. Cauchi was in possession of knives and made allegations that his family were abusing him as they tried to take them away, the Courier Mail newspaper reported. .
A man who owns a knife sharpening business said that about three years ago, Cauchi asked the business to sharpen his two “everyday knives”.
“Which I thought was strange,” the owner told the Guardian. “He was neither a cook nor a butcher.”
Cauchi tried to organize meetings with people who would like to “shoot guns”, social media posts show. Unemployed and moving between hostels, Cauchi turned to online sex websites to advertise his services as a male escort.
But none of his recent online activities have raised alarm bells with the authorities. In a group of backpackers, he asked fellow travelers to join him on a road trip to explore New South Wales.
In April he called out to go surfing at world-famous Bondi Beach. It was in Bondi on Saturday that Cauchi stopped to eat his last meal, at a Vietnamese restaurant at 10am.
But he seemed “confused”, staff said, and had no money to pay. He came back at noon to buy red curry with rice.
By 3.30pm he had pulled a knife from his rucksack, and committed one of the most devastating crimes in recent Australian history.
Sunday evening vigil
Mourners gathered outside the Westfield mall in Bondi Junction on Sunday afternoon for a small vigil dedicated to the six victims killed in the stabbing spree. A group of about 40 people from a local Muslim association laid flowers in memory of Mr Tahir.
Mr Albanese said Australians were struggling to comprehend an “unspeakable” attack that was “a little beyond comprehension”.
He said: “People shopping on a Saturday evening should be safe, they should not be at risk. But tragically, we saw the loss of life, and people will mourn their loved ones today.
“We also know that many people are still in hospital dealing with recovery, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Mr Albanese said he had received messages from Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden and Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, among others.
New South Wales chief executive Chris Minns flew back from Japan when he heard news of the attack. He said it was “unbelievable to see complete strangers jump in, putting their own lives in harm’s way to save someone they’ve never met”.
“We have great people in the city,” Mr Minns added.
