Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton joined tearful people at a candlelight vigil to bid farewell to the victims of the Bondi Junction attack on Sunday.
Groups of young people were seen crying and clutching knitted teddy bears as the somber event began at 5pm on Sunday at the Dolphin Court in Bondi Beach.
Lone knifeman Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and stabbed 12 others during a deadly rampage through the popular Sydney shopping center last Saturday.
Six other victims – two men, three women and a nine-month-old baby – are recovering in hospital in stable condition.
The State Government and Waverley Council held a candlelight vigil to mourn the lives lost in the attack which shocked the nation.
Hundreds of people gathered at the sunset vigil, which will involve a minute’s silence to honor the dead.
Hero Police Inspector Amy Scott was greeted with hugs from her colleagues as she arrived at the vigil for victims of the attack.
She chased down the lone attacker and shot him before he could hurt anyone else.
Crowds of young people were seen hugging each other and wiping away tears as the vigil began.
The Prime Minister is expected to address the crowd gathered at the beachside vigil.
“I think if we can stay united during tough times, we can send the message that there are a lot more good people in this city than bad actors and that there is evil,” the president said Saturday. Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns.
“Those who lost loved ones unanimously said they could feel the support of the community behind them and knew they were not alone.” Minns said the vigil would be an opportunity to “stand with those who have lost loved ones and remember those who were killed.
Among those killed in the attack was security guard Faraz Tahir.
Tahir, who came to Australia after fleeing persecution in Pakistan, was killed while trying to protect Cauchi shoppers.
“He is not only a hero to us, but to the entire nation,” said Adnan Qadir, national president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association.
“We are here in large numbers to carry on Faraz’s legacy by reflecting on his bravery, his courage and giving our young people the strength to know that they too must always be ready to serve others and, more importantly, this beautiful country.”
Five of the six people killed were women: Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Yixuan Cheng, 27.
Counselors and support services have been made available to emergency responders who attended the scene of several violent attacks in Sydney this week.
New York Post
