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Small fire breaks out onboard docked cruise ship in Sydney

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Fire breaks out on P&O Cruises, hundreds evacuated

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Hundreds of people on board a cruise ship have been forced to evacuate from their rooms after a fire broke out on board.

The blaze was detected on a balcony of P&O Cruise’s Pacific Adventure at 3.30am on Sunday off the NSW coast.

The fire was quickly extinguished, a spokesperson said, however the extent of the damage has yet to be determined.

“This fire activated our emergency response procedures including a full muster of guests and crew and we thank everyone on board for their co-operation,” the spokesperson said.

“There are no reports of injury.”

The spokesperson said the damage appeared to be contained to one cabin.

The ship is currently off the New South Wales coast and is scheduled to return to Sydney on Tuesday.

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Passengers on a P&O cruise ship were evacuated from their cabins at 3.30 a.m. after a fire broke out, reports say

• Passengers on a P&O cruise ship were evacuated from their cabins after a fire broke out on board.
• They were awoken by an emergency alarm at 3.30 a.m. and told to get their life jackets.
• There were no reported injuries and the ship is due to arrive back in Sydney on Tuesday.

Passengers on board a P&O cruise ship were evacuated from their cabins after a fire was detected on a balcony at 3.30 a.m., news.com.au reported.

A P&O representative told the outlet that the blaze was quickly dealt with. There were no injuries and damage appeared to be limited to one cabin.

According to 9News , the Pacific Adventure was carrying 3,017 passengers and 1,080 crew when the fire broke out off the coast of New South Wales, Australia.

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A video showed part of the fire and footage of passengers, with one saying it was their first night on the ship. 

Emma Llewllyn told 9News: "It certainly goes through your mind: 'Are we going to be getting on lifeboats? Are we evacuating the ship?'" 

Llewllyn, who was traveling with her 13-year-old daughter on their first cruise, said the fire was on the deck below them and they could smell smoke in the hallways.

Passengers were awoken by an alarm and told to get their life jackets and evacuate their cabins while firefighters tackled the flames, 9News reported. They were eventually allowed back into their rooms at 5 a.m., and the ship is due to arrive in Sydney on Tuesday.

"This fire activated our emergency response procedures including a full muster of guests and crew and we thank everyone on board for their co-operation," a P&O spokesperson told Insider. They added: "The extent of the damage and the cause of the fire are yet to be fully determined and remain under investigation."

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• Fire breaks out on Viking Orion cruise ship docked in Sydney...

Fire breaks out on Viking Orion cruise ship docked in Sydney (NSW Australia)

Due to a small cabin fire, around 850 people (~600 passengers plus ~250 crew) were evacuated from a Viking Ocean Cruises ship docked at White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney (NSW Australia) .

The tourists were escorted off Viking Orion around 9 am NSW time (before 10 pm UTC) today.

The fire impacted one passenger stateroom and affected two more/adjacent cabins. It was suspected to have been caused by a faulty electrical device used in the cabin.

Nobody has been injured as a result of the fire.

Passengers were disembarked and transferred via buses to alternative accommodations.

In a statement, Viking said it did not expect the fire would impact the current voyage's itinerary.

For more Viking Orion incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page .

Hundreds evacuated from cruise ship in Sydney harbour after fire breaks out

Around 600 people have been evacuated off a cruise ship in Sydney Harbour.

A small fire broke out in three cabins of the Viking Orion, which has since been extinguished.

It is not yet clear what started the fire.

Home » News » Viking Orion catches fire on Sydney Harbour, cancelling trade event

Viking Orion catches fire on Sydney Harbour, cancelling trade event

Passengers on Viking Orion , which is currently docked at White Bay in Sydney today, had to evacuate following reports of a fire.

Approximately 600 people on board were escorted off the ship at about 8:10am this morning. The fire, which is reported to have impacted three cabins, was extinguished at 8:40am.

Photos of the cruise ship showed black smoke billowing out of one of the ship’s windows.

Smoke billowing from Viking Orion (NCA Newswire)

“We can confirm that a small fire occurred in a guest stateroom on-board the Viking Orion while the ship was docked in Sydney,” a Viking Orion spokesperson said.

“The fire was extinguished within minutes by the ship’s crew, and there were no injuries.

“Viking is fully investigating the incident, and early reports indicate the cause of the fire was electrical, possibly from a corded device.

“All scheduled operations on-board the Viking Orion have continued, and we do not expect any disruption to the current voyage.”

Following the incident, an email was sent to prospective attendees of a travel trade inspection of the ship that was going to take place at 2:45pm today cancelling the event.

The event would have featured travel media, travel agents and associates of Viking Cruises.

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Fire breaks out on cruise ship off Australian coast

A fire broke out on a cruise ship off the coast of New SouthWales overnight, forcing hundreds of passengers to evacuate their rooms, 

Nine News reports the fire broke out on the Pacific Adventure at around 3:30am local time. 

P&O Cruises Australia told Nine News the fire was extinguished. 

"This fire activated our emergency response procedures including a full muster of guests and crew and we thank everyone on board for their cooperation," the spokesperson told Nine News.

"There are no reports of injury."

The Pacific Adventure was doing a three day cruise out of Sydney and had over 3000 guests onboard. 

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Fire breaks out on cruise ship docked in Sydney Harbour with 600 passengers evacuated

• A guest cabin was alight onboard the Viking Orion
• Firefighters were called to White Bay at about 8.10am
• The fire has been extinguished, no one was injured 

By Daily Mail Australia

Published: 16:34 EDT, 2 February 2023 | Updated: 17:43 EDT, 2 February 2023

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Some 600 people were evacuated off a cruise ship in Sydney Harbour after a fire broke out onboard.

Fire and Rescue NSW were called to White Bay Cruise Terminal at about 8.10am on Friday following reports of a fire on the Viking Orion ship.

It's understood the fire affected a guest cabin inside the vessel.

The blaze was extinguished at about 8.40am. 

Paramedics are at the scene and it is understood no one was injured during the incident.

The ship (above) was moored at White Bay in Sydney Harbour while the passengers evacuated

The Viking Orion has capacity for 930 passengers and was due to arrive in Melbourne on Saturday.

Viking Cruises told Daily Mail Australia the fire is believed to have started from an electric problem.

'The fire was extinguished within minutes by the ship’s crew, and there were no injuries,' a spokesperson said.

'Viking is fully investigating the incident, and early reports indicate the cause of the fire was electrical, possibly from a corded device. 

'All scheduled operations on board the Viking Orion have continued and we do not expect any disruption to the current voyage.'

Some 600 people were evacuated off the cruise ship Viking Orion after a fire broke out in three rooms (pictured smoke coming out the side of the boat)

It is understood all passengers were safely evacuated from the ship with no one injured during the incident (pictured, firefighters at the scene)

Share or comment on this article: Viking Orion cruise ship evacuated in Sydney Harbour due to fire in three rooms

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Bondi rescue lifeguard’s heroics during westfield stabbing attack.

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Terror on cruise ship as fire breaks out forcing passengers to evacuate

The blaze started on a balcony of the Pacific Adventure ship, while it was travelling off the New South Wales coast at about 3.30 am on Sunday

• 14:32, 28 May 2023

Thousands of cruise passengers were forced to evacuate from their rooms after a fire broke out onboard a ship sailing off Australia .

The blaze started on a balcony of the Pacific Adventure ship, while it was travelling off the New South Wales coast at about 3.30 am local time on Sunday, 9News reported.

Photos showed the flames bursting out of the balcony as people watch on in horror. Passengers are then seen rallied together in life jackets elsewhere on the ship.

There were no casualties and the fire was soon extinguished, however, the extent of the damage and cause is yet to be determined.

"This fire activated our emergency response procedures including a full muster of guests and crew and we thank everyone on board for their cooperation," a spokesperson said.

The ship was carrying 3 017 guests and 1080 crew, while it cruised for three days in and out of Sydney.

Meanwhile, in February, another Sydney cruise liner was forced to evacuate hundreds of passengers after a fire broke out.

About 600 people were escorted off the Viking Orion due to the blaze, which is believed to have affected three cabins.

Footage from a passenger’s phone showed smoke billowing from a window.

“We can confirm that a small fire occurred in a guest stateroom onboard the Viking Orion while the ship was docked in Sydney,” a Viking Orion spokesperson said.

Fires on cruises are very rare with just 72 fires reported on cruise ships between 1990-2011.

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Sydney attack latest: King and Queen 'utterly shocked' as they thank first responders; 'hero' lone officer who shot attacker 'saved lives'

Six people have been killed and several are in a critical condition, including a baby, after stabbings at a shopping centre near Bondi Beach in Sydney. The King has issued a statement and the Australian prime minister says the officer who stopped the suspect is a hero.

Saturday 13 April 2024 20:31, UK

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• At least six killed and several in critical condition after Sydney shopping centre attack
• King and Queen 'utterly shocked' as they thank first responders
• Australian prime minister commends intervening officer as 'hero'
• Lone officer shot dead attacker after he raised knife
• Shopper said she 'thought she was going to die'
• Here's what we know so far

That's all for our live coverage at the moment, but we'll be back if there are any major updates. 

In the meantime, you can read about how the attack unfolded by scrolling through the blog, or reading our lead story here ...

A victim of the Sydney shopping centre attack has been named as Ash Good, Sky News Australia reports. 

The 38-year-old mother, whose baby was injured in the attack, died in hospital after being stabbed, according to reports. 

Her nine-month-old has since undergone surgery.  

The UK's prime minister has issued a statement after the "truly devastating" attack. 

Rishi Sunak said his heart goes out to those affected by the "abhorrent act of violence". 

A man has described the moment his wife realised she had been stabbed during the shopping centre attack. 

The man, who has not been named, told ABC News Australia that his partner was one of the people taken to hospital. 

"We didn't know what had happened," he said.

"She thought she had got punched then she touched herself and there was blood. 

"Apart from that she is OK, she is alive and that's over - the stress is over, the panic, no one could tell you anything, it was terrible." 

He said she was stabbed in the top right-hand corner of her back. 

Andrew Reid was inside the Westfield shopping centre when today's attack ensued and he was told to evacuate. 

The lifeguard said "shutters came down" as he was trying to leave as part of a safety mechanism, and he could hear gunshots not that far away, 

"I looked down towards level four, and you could see a woman down there bleeding quite badly," he said. 

He asked a man to lift the shutters so he could leave to help the woman, and as he left he saw "crazy scenes". 

"That poor woman had lost a lot of blood and me and a couple of other bystanders helped her as there were police scrambling everywhere," he added. 

"About 30 metres away, there was another woman on the ground, and she was in a bad way." 

It is nearing 1am in Sydney, and Australia is still reeling from today's deadly shopping centre attack. 

A knifeman killed six people and injured eight others in the stabbing spree at the Westfield shopping centre near Bondi Beach before being shot by police. 

If you are just joining our live coverage, here's what we know so far: 

The 40-year-old suspect entered the mall at around 3.10pm local time (6.10am UK time), left and then returned around 10 minutes later, police said. 

Emergency services were called at around 3.30pm, following reports of multiple stabbings. 

Four women and a man were killed in the shopping centre, and another woman later died in hospital. 

Eight people have been injured, including a nine-month-old baby who has undergone surgery. 

Reports in the Australian media have suggested that the woman who died in hospital was the baby's mother. 

A lone female police officer confronted the attacker, shooting him after he lunged at her with a knife. 

In an attempt to save him, she conducted CPR on the man until paramedics arrived, but he could not be saved. 

At a news conference, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the knifeman was known to law enforcement and his attack was not thought to be terror-related. 

Hundreds of people ran from Westfield shopping centre, near Sydney, when a knifeman attacked at least nine people.

After the man was shot dead, families were seen in tears as they exited the building.

A supervisor of a luggage store in the Sydney shopping centre has described the moment he saw the attacker stab a woman. 

Yohan Francois Philip said he also saw the bodies of four people on the ground, including two security guards.

The 29-year-old said he stayed inside the store with several colleagues and customers as "a growing movement of around 50-ish" ran past.

During the commotion, a woman approached the shop, "banged on the door and said, 'let me in'".

"As I was letting her in, the perpetrator fell behind her with a knife and I saw him and so did the other customers in the store locked in with us and so we quickly pulled her in, locked the door, he got up and we realised he just stabbed two security guards," he told PA. 

"Then he ran across, to the corner part of the luggage store, to the premium section, and he stabbed a woman which I saw happen right in front of me."

Mr Philips, who also works as a lawyer, said he heard gunshots and assumed it was actually "gun fights between a police officer and him". 

"We've got a view of the back of our store onto the public street and we saw people running out of the store and then later on we saw ambulances and cops and bodies, people being wheeled out," he added. 

As he was eventually escorted outside by police officers, he "counted four bodies" on the ground and witnessed the baby that was attacked during the stabbing spree being wheeled out of the building, he said.

The King has released a statement following the Sydney shopping centre attack... 

His Majesty said he and the Queen were "utterly shocked and horrified" by the "senseless attack". 

He added that their "hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed".

"While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services," he added. 

The prime minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, offered his condolences to all the victims of the attack.

Posting on X, he said: "Australia is family.  So, all New Zealanders are thinking of those affected by the tragic events in Bondi, especially the family and friends of those killed today.

"Exceptional courage from NSW Police, first responders and members of the public."

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Sydney stabbing: 6 dead, suspect killed in attack at major shopping mall

The suspect, a 40-year-old male, was shot dead by a responding police officer.

LONDON -- At least six people were killed in a knife attack on Saturday at a shopping mall near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, police confirmed. The attacker was shot dead by a responding officer.

Police said a nine-month-old baby is among the eight others who were injured in the stabbing attack.

The suspect was identified as a 40-year-old male and his attack is not thought to be terror-related, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said during a press conference on Saturday.

The police "don't have fears for that person holding an ideation, in other words, that it's not a terrorism incident," Webb said.

Five women and one man were identified as the victims of the attack.

Webb said there was "no suggestion" anyone was targeted in the attack. "We will only know that in time," she said.

"A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of male at Bondi Junction. Just before 4pm (Saturday 13 April 2024), emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed," said New South Wales (NSW) Police in a statement following the incident. "People are urged to avoid the area. Inquiries are continuing in relation to the incident and there are no further details."

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement shortly after the attack.

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"I have been briefed by the AFP on the devastating events at Bondi Junction. Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones," said Albanese. "Our hearts go out to those injured and we offer our thanks to those caring for them as well as our brave police and first responders."

White House National Security spokesperson Adrienne Watson commented on the attack in Sydney, saying that the White House stands "with the people of Australia during this difficult time" and wishing a "speedy recovery" to those who were injured.

"Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in the horrible attack in Sydney, Australia, & we wish a speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries," Watson said in a social media post.

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Hero cop fatally shoots knife-wielding maniac who killed at least 5, injured several including small child in popular sydney mall.

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A heroic police officer fatally shot a knife-wielding maniac who killed five people and stabbed several others — including a small child — inside a popular Sydney mall Saturday afternoon.

Authorities received calls around 3:30 p.m. local time that a knife-wielding man was attacking people at Westfield Bondi Junction, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said during a press conference.

Footage obtained by 9News Sydney showed the suspect, wearing a gold and green rugby jersey and shorts, brandishing a long knife and approaching several horrified shoppers.

Hundreds of people were captured running for the mall’s exits during the stabbing spree.

At around 3:10 p.m., the suspect “moved through the center” in a crowd of about “nine people” inside the mall and launched his attack, causing “harm to those people we believe by stabbing them,” Cooke said.

A nearby officer was alerted of the attack by fleeing shoppers and confronted the suspect when he was on “level five” of the mall.

“He turned, faced her, raised a knife, and the officer opened fire, killing the suspect,” Cooke recalled.

Australia’s Prime Minster Anthony Albanese praised the bravery of the lone female police officer for entering the mall “by herself” and killing the suspect before he could cause any more harm to innocent civilians.

“She is certainly a hero. There is no doubt that she saved lives,” Albanese said.

A 38-year-old mother , whose 9-month-old baby was stabbed in the attack, died hours later at the hospital, according to the outlet.

The baby’s condition is still unknown.

Two witnesses told  9News Sydney  how they helped save the defenseless baby after the suspect also stabbed the child’s mother.

“The mom got stabbed, and the mom came over with the baby and threw it at me, and I was holding the baby,” one of the men told the outlet.

The two men said they began “compressing the baby” and the mother to stop the bleeding. 

“There’s a lot of blood on the floor… I hope the baby is alright,” they said.

Cooke shared there was no indication of motivation for the act but was not ruling out if it was terrorist-related.

“NSW ambulance assisted in transporting eight patients to various hospital facilities across Sydney, and assessed a total of six patients who had been deemed injured on the scene,” he said.

“Things are very, very raw at this time, and we’re in the early stages of the investigation.”

The suspect is believed to have acted alone, Cooke said, adding that there was no further threat to the area.

Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.

Albanese condemned the “horrific” attack on the innocent shoppers.

“The devastating scenes at Bondi Junction are beyond words or understanding. Australians will be shocked this evening,” Albanese said. “This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeted at innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping tonight.

“It’s such a shock this happens in a country such as ours, where people should be able to go about their shopping on a Saturday afternoon without any thought that there is risk involved.”

With Post wires

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6 killed in Sydney mall stabbing attack

By Sophie Tanno and Tori B. Powell , CNN

Our live coverage has ended. Read up on the latest on the Sydney mall attack or scroll through the posts below.

6 dead in Sydney shopping mall stabbing attack. Here's the latest

Six people are dead  and several others injured after a man went on a stabbing rampage in a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday afternoon local time, one of the country’s worst mass killings in recent years. The suspect was  shot dead .

Eyewitnesses described  “pandemonium”  as they fled from the attack, with many  forced to hide in shops . Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was “beyond words and understanding,” but amid the “shocking violence,” there were glimmers of heroism.

Here’s the latest if you are just joining us:

Six dead: New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said  four women and a man died  at the shopping mall, while a fifth woman later died at the hospital. Webb added that  eight additional people  are being treated for injuries at hospitals in Sydney.

Baby among those injured: A  nine-month-old baby is confirmed  to be among the injured and has been in surgery, Webb said. Australian media outlets have reported that the baby’s mother had died, but Webb could not confirm the reports.

Suspect shot: A police inspector shot the attacker dead on the scene. Police believe the suspect was a 40-year-old man who acted alone, but could not provide further identification details. Early indications suggest the attack was  not terror-related .

"Hero" police officer: The police officer who shot the suspect is being hailed as a “hero,” with  Albanese saying , “There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action.” The officer was nearby when the violence unfolded and shot the attacker when he raised his knife at her, police said.

Witnesses describe scene: Eyewitnesses described panic and “pandemonium” as fleeing shoppers fell over each other and hid in shops. One woman, Crystal Wang,  told CNN  she hid in a clothing store for over an hour with other shoppers. Another man told Australia’s state broadcaster ABC that the attacker was stabbing people “indiscriminately.”

Rare attack: The attack has shocked Australia, a country where  mass casualty events are rare . The deadliest in its history was an April 1996 mass shooting in the town of Port Arthur, Tasmania, that killed 35 people and became known as the Port Arthur massacre. More recently, at least four people were killed and one injured in a mass shooting in the northern city of Darwin in 2019.

Pope Francis offer prayers for Sydney mall attack victims and first responders

Pope Francis is "deeply saddened" by the mass stabbing that occurred at a busy shopping center in Sydney, Australia, according to a statement from the Vatican.

"He sends the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all affected by this senseless tragedy, especially those who are now mourning the loss of a loved one," the statement read. "He likewise offers his prayers for the dead, injured, as well as the first responders, and invokes upon the nation the divine blessings of consolation and strength."

King Charles III "shocked and horrified" by the Sydney stabbing

Britain's King Charles III, who is head of state in Australia, said he and his wife Queen Camilla are "utterly shocked and horrified" by the shopping mall stabbing in Sydney that left six dead.

"Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack," a statement from Buckingham Palace said.

"While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services."

9-month-old baby among victims receiving treatment in hospital

From CNN's Chris Liakos and Sophie Tanno

A nine-month-old baby is confirmed to be among eight victims who have been admitted to hospital following the mass stabbing attack at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall.

New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb on Saturday confirmed that eight people are currently being treated for different injuries in hospitals around Sydney, including the infant, who has been in surgery.

Webb said "the last update I had was that it (the baby) had been in surgery and it's too early to say really. But it's awful."

She could not confirm Australian media reports that the baby's mother had died.

"I've heard that same rumour but I can't confirm that," she said.

Early indications say attack was not terror related, police say

From CNN's Chris Liakos 

New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb said on Saturday that early indications suggest the Sydney mall stabbing attack is not terror related but cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing.

Webb told reporters that current elements do not point to a terror motive, adding however that the investigation will be ongoing "for many many days" and that it is "too early to say" what was behind the attack.

According to Webb, police believe that the suspect is a 40-year-old man but as background checks remain ongoing, she could not provide further identification details.

Webb said she was "confident" that there is no ongoing risk and that "we are dealing with one person who is now deceased."

The suspect was shot dead at the scene by a lone officer, police earlier said.

In pictures: Stabbing at Sydney shopping mall

From CNN Digital’s Photo Team

Sydney has been left stunned after a mass stabbing at a shopping mall left at least six people dead. Here are some of the latest pictures from the scene.

"Do not go down there": Witnesses describe scenes of pandemonium in Sydney shopping mall

From CNN"s Sophie Tanno

Witnesses inside the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall when the attack took place have described scenes of chaos.

CNN’s Australian affiliate, 9 News Sydney, spoke to an eyewitness who said people were running through the shopping center and falling over each other, describing the situation as “pandemonium.”

Two brothers who were there told 9 News they saw a baby and mother stabbed and tried to help.

“The baby got stabbed and the mum got stabbed," one of the brothers said. “We were holding the baby and trying to compress the baby. Same with the mother, trying to compress the blood from stopping.”

One man described seeing a man in a green shirt stabbing others "indiscriminately."

"[We just heard] screaming, screaming and it didn't seem that long before we heard 'boom boom boom' of the gunshot and we thought, 'We hope it's the police,'" the witness told Australia's state broadcaster ABC. "[A person] is dying 10 metres away … I grabbed towels and there were three people dying around me. "It was just carnage."

Another man who did not give his name told ABC that the attacker would have continued his deadly rampage if the police officer had not intervened.

"If she did not shoot him, he would have kept going, he was on the rampage," he said.

Woman hid at back of clothes shop for over an hour during attack

From CNN's Sophie Tanno

One eyewitness who was inside Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall when the attack unfolded described hiding in the back of a shop.

Crystal Wang explained how, after arriving at Westfield at around 3.20pm – just as the attack began – she walked into a clothes store where "the girls at the shop shut the door behind me and turned off lights."

She continued: "I was really confused, and they told me someone is stabbing people with a knife in the mall. I was hiding at the back of the shop, saw some people fleeing, and then heard [a] few gun shots.”

At first, Crystal thought there had been a power cut, before she realized the severity of the situation she had found herself in.

"A siren went on and not long after, I heard gun shots and started to panic, I was worried the attacker also had a gun," she said. "That's when the shop assistants asked everyone to hide in their storage room."

She added that management announcements probably made the situation worse.

“They were saying 'all the customers please evacuate immediately.' "We were obviously locked inside, just really confused if we should get out of the shop or stay in. "The lady who's making the announcement is obviously panicking as well, which just made us more anxious. She was even swearing at the end of her announcements."

Crystal and other shoppers stayed in hiding for an hour and half, until they were able to leave.

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‘Run, run, run’: Chaos at a Sydney mall as 6 people stabbed to death, and the suspect fatally shot

SYDNEY (AP) — A man stabbed six people to death at a busy Sydney shopping center Saturday before he was fatally shot, police said, with hundreds fleeing the chaotic scene, many weeping as they carried their children. Eight people, including a 9-month-old, were injured.

New South Wales police said they believed a 40-year-old man was responsible for the Saturday afternoon attack at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, in the city’s eastern suburbs. They said they were not able to name him until a formal identification had taken place but that they weren’t currently treating the attack as terrorism-related.

The man was shot dead by a female police inspector after he turned and raised a knife, New South Wales Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters.

“This all happened very, very quickly — the officer that was in the vicinity attended on her own, was guided to the location of the offender by people who were in the center,” he said. “She took the actions that she did saving a range of people’s lives.”

The stabbing at the shopping center, which was a hub of activity on a particularly warm fall afternoon, began around 3:10 p.m. and police were called soon after.

“They just said run, run, run — someone’s been stabbed,” one witness told ABC TV in Australia. “(The attacker) was walking really calmly like he was having an ice cream in a park. And then he went up the escalators ... and probably within about a minute we heard three gunshots.”

Six of the victims — five women and a man — and the suspect died. Commissioner Karen Webb said the eight injured people were being treated at hospitals. The baby was in surgery, but it was too early to know the condition, she said.

“We are confident that there is no ongoing risk, and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased,” Webb said in a later briefing. She added: “It’s not a terrorism incident.”

Witnesses were shocked at the rare outburst of violence. Australia enacted  strict gun laws  after a man killed 35 and wounded another 23 in 1996, in Tasmania.

“I saw all the people running and I didn’t know what was happening,” said Ayush Singh. “I thought it was some people playing a prank or something and after some time I saw a guy with a knife running from the footpath to the cafe where I work.”

He said police arrived quickly and told everyone to stay put.

Singh said he saw the man running just meters (yards) away as he wielded a knife. “I didn’t hear him say anything,” he added. “Just a random guy stabbing people. Mad guy.”

Roi Huberman, a sound engineer at ABC TV in Australia, told the network that he sheltered in a store during the incident.

“And suddenly we heard a shot or maybe two shots and we didn’t know what to do,” he said. “Then the very capable person in the store took us to the back where it can be locked. She then locked the store and then she then let us through the back and now we are out.”

As the attack unfolded, panicked individuals streamed out of the shopping center, many with children in their arms. Paramedics treated injured people at the scene. The shopping center and the surrounding area remains in lockdown as police piece together what went on.

“It’s been an incredibly distressing day for so many people in our community, people who went to the shops today, a packed shopping centre, and then got caught up in something we could never imagine here, something so disturbing and terrifying for many,” Kellie Sloane, a local lawmaker, said.

The most senior members of Britain’s royal family, who are also royals in Australia, expressed their shock and sadness over the stabbings.

King Charles III said he and his wife Queen Camilla were “utterly shocked and horrified” by the “senseless attack” in Sydney and that their “hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed.” The king’s eldest son Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, said they too were “shocked and saddened” and that their thoughts are with those affected and the “heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others.”

Pope Francis also expressed his sadness at the “senseless tragedy” in Sydney, offering his “spiritual closeness” to all those affected and prayers for the dead and injured. The message was contained in a telegram to Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher and sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.

Associated Press writers Pan Pylas in London and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Stabbing rampage at Sydney mall leaves at least 7 dead, including attacker

Seven people are dead and others are in serious or critical condition after a stabbing rampage at a mall in Sydney, Australia , on Saturday, according to police. The attacker, who was shot by a lone officer, was among the dead, and a baby among those stabbed.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke told a news conference that the attacker walked into the Westfield Bondi Junction mall at about 3:20 p.m. local time (1:20 a.m. ET) where he “caused harm” to about nine people “stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying.” The weapon “was most likely a knife,” he said.

A spokesperson for New South Wales Ambulance told NBC News that a 9-month-old baby was “transported to Sydney Children’s Hospital with a pediatric stab wound.”

Cooke said that an inspector near the scene was guided to the offender’s location by members of the public. As she pursued him from behind, Cooke said the offender turned and the officer shot him.

“She took the action, saving a range of people’s lives,” he added.

He said the offender’s motives were not clear, but he acted alone and that there was no continuing threat.

Speaking at the same news conference, NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Brent Armitage said two other people had been transported to hospitals across Sydney. Their condition was not known.

Surveillance video showed a man running through the mall holding a long knife. Reports from local media described chaos, as some shoppers fled and others attempted to stop the man. Some shops reportedly pulled down their shutters, sequestering some people inside in order to keep them safe.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the mall.

In a live interview with 9News Sydney, the local broadcaster, a man outside the mall said he helped a baby after a woman was stabbed. “The mum came over with the baby and threw it at me, with this hole in the baby, it looked pretty bad,” he said.

Roi Huberman, a sound engineer at ABC TV in Australia, told the network that he sheltered in a store during the incident.

“Suddenly we heard a shot or maybe two shots and we didn’t know what to do,” he said. “Then the very capable person in the store took us to the back where it can be locked.” She then locked the store and led them out through the back entrance.

Andrew Reid described helping some of the injured victims, including one woman who was “bleeding pretty badly.” 

“That poor woman she there was a lot of blood,” Reid, who was shopping for a bed, told Sky News. “She lost a lot of blood and me and a couple of other bystanders helped with her.” 

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “a horrific act of violence that indiscriminately targeted innocent people.”

In a news conference, he said the nation “offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those who are grieving for someone they have lost. And we send our strength to those who have been injured.”

King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla “were utterly shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic stabbing incident in Bondi.”

“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack,” he said in a statement. “While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services.”

Prince William and his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, issued statement on X .

“We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney earlier today. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others,” they said.

Westfield Bondi Junction thanked its team and law enforcement for their “swift and brave action.”

Albanese said the police officer who shot the attacker was “certainly a hero,” and that “there was no doubt she saved lives with her actions.”

Liam Woods is a desk editor in the NBC News London bureau. 

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.