Sydney knife killer is unmasked as 40-year-old from Queensland

by · Mail Online

The knifeman behind the horrific stabbing rampage in Sydney which left six people dead has been identified as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland. 

Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said he was known to police and was 'very clearly' suffering from mental health issues. 

Six shoppers were killed during the attack at Bondi Junction's Westfield in Sydney east yesterday afternoon before Cauchi was gunned down by a hero female police officer. 

'We know that shortly after coming to Sydney, he took possession of a storage facility that has been identified,' assistant commissioner Cooke said.

'We are continuing to work through the profiling of the offender but very clearly to us at this stage it would appear that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved.'

The knifeman behind the horrific stabbing rampage in Sydney which left six people dead has been identified as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi
Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said he was known to police and was 'very clearly' suffering from mental health issues
New South Wales (NSW) Police Inspector Amy Scott has been praised for her bravery after she stopped the terrifying attack by shooting Cauchi dead

According to his social media profiles, Cauchi grew up in Toowoomba and claimed he worked as an English tutor.

He was a surfing enthusiast and just last week posted in a Sydney Facebook group asking if anyone would like to meet him for a surf in Bondi.

It comes as police also provided an update on the condition of a nine-month-old baby girl who was seriously injured in the attack. 

The infant was rushed to hospital in a critical condition last night for emergency surgery.

A police spokesperson said: 'We understand baby Harriet is stabilising this morning.

'We understand that she underwent surgery and she remains in a serious but stable condition.' 

Harriet's mother, Ash Good, 38, was among those killed during Cauchi's rampage.  

Tonight another victim has been named as the daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton. 

Dawn Singleton, affectionately known as Dawnie, 25, was one of the six people stabbed to death by Cauchi at the shopping centre. 

New South Wales (NSW) Police Inspector Amy Scott has been praised for her bravery after she stopped the terrifying attack by shooting Cauchi dead.

As the first officer on scene, Inspector Scott sprinted through the top level of the shopping complex and risked her life when she confronted the knifeman who also injured eight others. 

She shot the attacker - who was wearing a green rugby top - dead when he turned towards her and raised his knife.

The senior police officer then performed CPR on the killer and the other victims lying on the ground as she waited for back-up to arrive.

John Singleton's daughter Dawnie, 25, has been named among six people murdered by kniofe wielding attacker Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday
She confronted the knifeman alone on the top level of the shopping centre and shot him dead
Insp Amy Scott  (second from the left) was recognised for her courage while stationed as a sergeant in 2019
The attacker was in the mall at 3pm but left and returned at 3.20pm with a knife. He attacked the mother and child at 3.30pm before police arrived at 3.45pm and the mall was placed under lockdown at 4pm

Among the victims was 38-year-old new mother Ash Good who was attacked alongside her nine-month-old baby Harriet.

Just hours before the horror unfolded, Ms Good posted a photo to Instagram with her daughter in her arms.

'Only because I was walking past and happened to be wearing the same thing 9 months out vs 9 months in etc etc,' the caption read.

One man was hailed a hero for rushing to aid Ms Good and her baby as he told how he desperately worked to keep the infant alive using store clothes.

A witness interrupted a Nine News reporter at the scene in Bondi Junction and pointed to his brother, saying: 'He's a hero - he saved the baby'.

The clearly shaken man said he used clothes from a store to try and stem the baby's bleeding.

'The baby got stabbed and, yeah, the mum got stabbed,' he said.

'The mum came over with the baby and threw it at me. I just helped by holding the baby... and trying to compress the baby('s wounds).'

The brothers stayed with the mother and called emergency services.

'(It was) very bad... a lot of the blood on the floor ... hope the baby's alright,' the other brother said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prince and Princess of Wales have led the flood of commendations for Inspector Scott's actions.

A first-time mother stabbed to death in the Sydney shopping centre knife rampage has been pictured for the first time. Just hours before the horror unfolded, Ms Good posted a photo to Instagram with her daughter Harriet in her arms
Ash Good, 38, was among the six shoppers at Sydney's Bondi Junction Westfield who were killed today, when a man, 40, dressed in a rugby league jersey, went on a stabbing rampage about 3.20pm before a female police officer shot him dead

Rishi Sunak has said his 'heart goes out' to those affected by the 'truly devastating' attack in Sydney that killed six people.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'The horrific attacks at Bondi Junction are truly devastating.

'My heart goes out to those affected by this abhorrent act of violence, and I pray for the recovery of those left injured and traumatised today.

'You are in the thoughts and prayers of the British people.'