A “hero” police officer gunned down a rampaging knife attacker as “he turned, faced her” and “raised a knife”.
The unnamed female officer bravely took on the killer after he left at least six dead in a blooding stabbing spree at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney, Australia.
The lone male, who police are yet to pin a “motive or any ideology” to, began attacking people including a mother and baby around 3.30pm local time today.
Horrifying images show the man wearing a sports jersey calmly taking an escalator while holding a huge blade. At least six people are known to have died in the attack, with multiple casualties taken to hospital including a baby.
Images have emerged of a female police officer standing over the slumped body of the knifeman.
It is not known if the female officer is the person who shot the man dead, but New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner, Anthony Cooke said at a press conference a nearby officer killed the knifeman.
He said: “She confronted the offender who had moved by this stage to level five [of the mall] as she continued to walk quickly behind him to catch up with him. He turned, faced her, raised a knife. She discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the bravery of the frontline officer. He said: “She is certainly a hero. There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action. And it is a reminder that those people who wear uniform are people who rush to danger, not away from it.
“And I give thanks to every, every one of them, for the actions that they’ve taken up to now and the actions that they will take over the coming days, which will be a difficult period as well.”
Many have taken to social media to praise the bravery of the policewoman. GB News presenter Martin Daubney wrote on X: “The cop who shot dead the Bondi knife murderer is a true hero. Give this woman the highest bravery award in the land and the freedom of Sydney.”
Another person added: “This female senior NSW Police detective was in Bondi Junction at the time and shot the attacker in Westfield. She’s a hero and saved many lives today. It could have been so much worse.”
While someone else wrote: “Brave police officer. Acted on her own and confronted the offender. She saved multiple lives. She is a hero.”
Tyler Mitchell