Talk about a day of sheer terror at the shops. One minute you’re minding your own business, trying on clothes or grabbing a snack. The next, all hell breaks loose as a knife-wielding maniac starts going berserk and stabbing anyone in his path.
That was the horrifying scene that unfolded at Sydney’s massive Westfield Bondi Junction mall this afternoon. Witnesses say a man wearing sporty casual gear and carrying a big bloody knife just snapped and started slashing away at innocent shoppers for no apparent rhyme or reason.
“This bloke was on a mission, I’m telling you,” said an ashen-faced man named Jacob, still looking shell-shocked outside the mall hours later. “He was stabbing anyone and everyone – didn’t matter if you were a man, woman or even just a infant kiddo.”
And get this – among the victims were a 25-year-old new mum and her 9-month-old baby girl, both reportedly in serious condition after being rushed to hospital. Apart from them, at least 6 other poor souls were left bleeding on the mall’s floors after the freak lashed out in an indiscriminate a stabbing frenzy.
While the knifeman was having his crazed field day, it was utter chaos and pandemonium all around as terrified crowds scattered for their lives. Some brave heroes even tried using shopping trolleys as human bouncy shields to take the psycho down themselves before cops could intervene.
Eventually though, one of Sydney’s finest drew their weapon and shot the attacker dead, finally ending the nightmare. But the sheer violence and depravity of it all has deeply shaken this city today. Serious questions are being asked about mall security and how such a horrible act could be allowed to happen in the first place at Westfield’s busiest Sydney centre.
