Women may have been 'target' of Sydney knife attacker: Australian police

Australian police have said that the man, who fatally stabbed six people at a shopping centre in Bondi, Sydney, may have been targetting women.

On Saturday (April 13), 40-year-old Joel Cauchi created chaos and panic amid the crowd in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex as he started stabbing people using a long blade.

Among the six people who died from stabbing, five were women. Many others, including a baby, also suffered injuries.

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Speaking to Australia's ABC News, New South Wales police commissioner said that it was "obvious" Cauchi was aiming at women.

The lone mankilled in the stabbing attackwas a 30-year-old security guard named Faraz Tahir who suffered injuries while trying to intervene in the attack.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, commissioner Karen Webb said, "The videos speak for themselves, don't they? It's obvious to me, it's obvious to detectives... that the offender focused on women and avoided the men. That's certainly a line for inquiry for us."

Also Read: Who was Ashlee Good? Sydney stabbing victim whose last act saved her injured baby's life

"We don't know what was operating in the mind of the offender and that's why it's important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him," he added.

According to the witnesses, the attacker was wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey. He was seen running in the mall while carrying a knife in his hand. Inspector Amy Scott confronted the man and killed him.

According to the police, Cauchi had mental health issues earlier and no other specific motive was determined.

The police already knew the man, however, he was never charged or arrested in his home state Queensland. According to the Queensland Police, the man was first diagnosed with mental illness at the age of 17.

Australia marks day of mourning

The stabbing attack - which took place at one of the most popular and biggest shopping centres in the country - sent a wave of shockin the country, where mass killings happen rarely.

Speaking to ABC News about the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday (April 15) said that "the gender breakdown is, of course, concerning".

Across thecountry,flags will be flown at half-mast on Monday and the lights were lit on the sails of Sydney Opera House in tribute to the victims.

Watch:Sydney attack: Five killed in stabbing horror inside Sydney mall, eight injured taken to hospital

Mourners, in massive numbers, flocked to Bondi Junction and left cards and flowers for those who died in the attack.

Wreaths and flowers were laid in a makeshift memorial outside the beachside mall in Bondi.

"It's shocking something like this could happen so close to home," said Wren Wyatt, who had come to pay respects at the memorial. "I'm still trying to get back to everyday life. I've taken today off to try and get my head better," she said.

Meanwhile, other victims have been identified as architect Jade Young, 47, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia,Ashlee Good, 38, and Dawn Singleton, 25. The sixth victim was identified as Yixuan Cheng, 25, as per the Chinese consulate in Sydney.

(With inputs from agencies)