French hero granted Australian residency for confronting killer in deadly Sydney mall attack

SYDNEY — French construction worker Damien Guerot was made a permanent Australian resident Thursday in recognition of his heroism during a stabbing attack at a Sydney shopping center that left six people dead and a dozen injured.

Guerot was dubbed “Bollard Man” on social media after security camera footage on Saturday showed the 31-year-old standing at the top of an escalator at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping center and pushing away Joel Cauchi, brandishing a knife, with a plastic barrier post. Cauchi fled down the escalator and the people on Guerot’s floor were safe.

Guerot’s Australian temporary work visa was due to expire in July until the prime minister. Antoine Albanais stepped in with an invitation to settle in Australia.

Guerot told Nine Network Television he was happy about the opportunity to stay in Australia, but had mixed emotions. “It’s just incredible,” he said. But, he added, “How can I be so happy when … many people and families … are very sad about their loss?”

Guerot was also filmed brandishing a plastic chair as he ran towards Cauchi behind the police inspector. Amy Scott. Guerot and fellow Frenchman and work colleague Silas Despreaux were with Scott when she ended Cauchi’s rampage with a fatal shot.

Despreaux, like Guerot, had chased Cauchi and thrown a barrier at the killer, but did not appear to appear in images posted on social media or broadcast by the news.

French President Emmanuel Macron praised the heroism of the two men.

“Two of our compatriots behaved like true heroes,” Macron posted in French on social networks. “Very proud and grateful.”

Albanese told Guerot at a press conference on Monday: “You are welcome to stay as long as you wish.”

Guerot is someone Australia would welcome as a citizen, Albanese said, “even if it would be a loss for France”.

His lawyer, Belinda Robertson, said her client had been told the Prime Minister did not have the power to grant citizenship. However, Guerot was granted permanent residency on Thursday, she said.

Albanese also offered citizenship to Pakistani security guard Muhammad Taha, who was stabbed in the stomach when he confronted Cauchi. Taha is on a temporary visa which will expire in a few weeks.

“Yes, we certainly will,” Albanese told Radio FiveAA when asked if he would consider citizenship for Taha. “Muhammad Taha, he confronted this guy, the attacker, Joel Cauchi, on Saturday. And that shows extraordinary courage. That’s the kind of person. courage that we want to say thank you to, frankly.

Taha said from his hospital bed that he believed he deserved “recognition and consideration for citizenship.” Taha also highlighted the work of other guards, saying they should also be offered citizenship. The only man killed in Saturday’s attack was a shopping mall security guard, Pakistani refugee Faraz Tahir.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister Andrew Giles did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Westfield Bondi Junction opened to the public on Thursday for the first time since the mass stabbings, but shops remained closed for what is being described as a “day of community reflection”. Shops at one of Australia’s largest shopping centers will reopen on Friday with increased security.

The deadly rampage was the first of two stabbing attacks by lone attackers over three days that traumatized Sydney.

A 16-year-old boy is in police custody after allegedly stabbing a Christian bishop and priest during a church service Monday. Police say the boy had a religious or ideological motivation and attacked them during the streamed service to provoke intimidation.

Police are conducting extensive investigations into the mall attack, the stabbing attacks on Christ the Good Shepherd Church and the riot that took place outside the Assyrian Orthodox service as people sought revenge for the attack.

The mall attack is not a criminal investigation, but police are gathering evidence to present to the coroner to investigate the circumstances of the deaths. Five of those killed were women.

The riot investigation made its first arrest on Wednesday evening when police took Dani Mansour, 19, from his Sydney home. Police say Mansour, a barber, filmed himself kicking two police cars during the riot, then uploaded the footage to his social media account.

He entered no plea in court Thursday to charges of rioting, causing a disturbance and destroying or damaging property during a public disorder incident. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted.

He was released on bail, under certain conditions, including not using social media.

Dozens of other alleged rioters are expected to be charged.

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McGuirk reported from Melbourne, Australia