Sydney, Australia— Four people were injured Thursday afternoon when a man carried out a mass knife attack inside a busy shopping mall in Sydney, sending shoppers fleeing before police arrested him.
The attack happened at 2:40 p.m. at Westfield Bondi Junction. The suspect, a 34-year-old man, entered through the ground floor and began stabbing people at random near a food court. Witnesses said he held a large kitchen knife and moved quickly between levels.
Shoppers screamed and ran. Some hid in stores. Staff pulled shutters down. A security guard tried to stop the attacker but was injured. The attacker wounded four people, including two women in their 20s and a man in his 50s.
Police inside the mall for a separate incident responded within three minutes. They confronted the man on the third level. He lunged at officers. One officer fired a taser, then restrained him. The knife was recovered.
"He was acting alone. There is no indication of a political motive at this stage. It appears to be a random attack," a New South Wales Police superintendent said outside the mall. "Four victims are in hospital. Their injuries are not life-threatening."
The mall was locked down for two hours. Hundreds were evacuated through emergency exits. Paramedics treated the injured on site before taking them to St Vincent's and Prince of Wales hospitals. The security guard who intervened was among them.
This is the second knife attack at the same mall in two years. In 2024, six people were killed in a similar incident. That attack led to calls for more security and knife detection.
The suspect had a history of mental health issues, according to police sources. He was not known to counter-terrorism units. He is now in custody at Surry Hills police station.
The mall will remain closed Friday for forensic examination. Counseling services have been offered to staff.
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