Four people were reported stabbed, one fatally, and a man shot dead by police in Sydney’s major shopping mall, Bondi Junction.
Witnesses say a man was chasing and slashing people with a knife, before the Westfield complex in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was evacuated and locked down.
It is believed that at least four people were stabbed and one of them died.
The knife bearer was also reportedly shot dead by police.
Police – including the Tactical Operations Unit – and ambulances responded to the scene, and people were seen shouting and screaming outside the complex.
Shoppers run to Bondi Junction as police lock down center following reports of major incident
Paramedics have taken two people to hospital in ambulances so far, while passersby saw several people outside the mall with blood on their clothes.
A young witness, currently locked in a store, said she heard gunshots and “bloodcurdling” screams.
“We are absolutely terrified,” she said.
Earlier, panicked people were seen crossing the pedestrian bridge outside the center in a video posted on social media.
Others said they were being evacuated from the center’s parking lot.
The police are present in large numbers on the scene.
Eastern suburbs resident Ted Helliar posted on X: “Something just happened at Westfields Bondi intersection.”
“We were up there and all of a sudden all these people were running towards us. Then dozens and dozens of people are all running screaming, one guy shouts “someone is stabbing everyone, get out of here”.
Westfield Bondi Junction is locked down after Saturday afternoon incident
A police spokesperson confirmed a major operation was underway at the shopping centre.
Another X user said hundreds of shoppers were hiding at the back of the David Jones department store, which had its shutters down after reports a man was seen running with a gun through the center.
A police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday afternoon that a major police operation was underway and officers were gathering details at the scene.
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