Crowds flee Sydney shopping mall after reports say 4 die in stabbing attack

Four have reportedly died and a 'critical incident' has been declared by police and large numbers of officers are at the scene

Crowds flee Sydney shopping mall after reports of multiple stabbings and possible shooting spark major police response. An eyewitnesses told the ABC shots were fired.

Australian media said four people had died and more had been injured by a man stabbing people at the Westfield Bondi Junction centre in Sydney. New South Wales Police said in a statement: “A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of a male at Bondi Junction.

“Just before 4pm, emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed.”

News website news.com.au reported witnesses claiming a man began stabbing shoppers at random before being shot by police. The Australian website reported that a nine-month-old baby was among those who were stabbed.

New South Wales Police said emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction just before 4pm after reports of multiple people being stabbed. "A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of male at Bondi Junction," police said in a statement.

It said an operation was underway with shoppers being evacuated. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said there were two alleged offenders. It said one has been shot by police and they were hunting the other.

Aerial footage from outside the complex shows a large number of emergency vehicles and personnel.

Armed police could also be seen conducting a search on the roof where the car park is located. According to the ambulance spokesperson, a number of people remain trapped inside the shopping centre.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as new information comes in