MELBOURNE (Australia): Law enforcement authorities are delving into the motivation behind a deadly stabbing spree in Sydney’s bustling shopping precinct. The lone perpetrator, who took the lives of six individuals and wounded over a dozen others, seemed to specifically target women while avoiding men, as noted by the police commissioner on Monday. The assailant’s father attributed his son’s actions to frustration stemming from his inability to establish romantic relationships.
During the Saturday attack at the Westfield Bondi Junction mall, in proximity to Bondi Beach, Joel Cauchi, a homeless individual, was shot dead by police as he wielded a blade.
The police have dismissed the notion of terrorism and have indicated that the 40-year-old suffered from mental health issues.
New South Wales State Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that investigators would seek to understand Cauchi’s motives by interrogating his family. Surveillance footage showed that Cauchi focused his aggression on women using a 30-centimeter knife.
“The footage speaks volumes, doesn’t it? That line of investigation is certainly central to our inquiry,” Webb remarked.
“It is evident to me, as well as to the investigators, that the focus on women over men is a significant point of interest,” Webb continued.
The assailant’s father, Andrew Cauchi, expressed his understanding of his son’s focus on women, attributing it to his son’s frustration due to his lack of social skills.
“He yearned for companionship, but lacked the social acumen to achieve it, leaving him exasperated,” the visibly upset 76-year-old father shared with reporters outside his residence in Toowoomba, Queensland.
“He is my son, and despite his actions, I still love him. While he may appear monstrous to others, to me, he was a severely troubled boy. Believe me, he was gravely ill,” Andrew Cauchi added.
The sole male fatality was Faraz Tahir, a Pakistani refugee employed as a security guard at the mall. He was unarmed.
Webb stated that most of the 12 surviving victims of the attack were women.
The evidence will be submitted to a coroner, who will provide a comprehensive analysis of the deaths.
Webb anticipated that the coroner would also address the potential need for arming security personnel at the sprawling shopping center.
Authorities notified the families of two overseas victims about their passing. Those affected were Tahir, 30, from Pakistan, and Yixuan Cheng, 27, from China. The other deceased individuals were Jade Young, 47; Dawn Singleton, 25; Pikria Darchia, 55; and Ashlee Good, 38.
Eight injured victims remained hospitalized on Monday, including Good’s 9-month-old daughter. The infant’s condition had improved from critical to serious overnight, according to health officials.
The other seven patients’ conditions ranged from critical to stable.
Andrew Cauchi mentioned his son’s preoccupation with knives. Last year, he had confiscated five U.S. military combat knives from his son while they lived in Toowoomba, fearing they could be used for violence.
When his son became irate and accused his father of theft, the knives were handed to a friend for safekeeping.
“I informed the police that my son had schizophrenia and that I was concerned for my safety,” Andrew Cauchi explained.
“I told my friend, ‘Why do I feel like I might be killed in my own home by my son using a U.S. combat knife?'” he added.
The killer’s mother, Michele Cauchi, described the rampage as the “absolute worst nightmare” for any parent of a mentally ill child.
National flags across Australia were flown at half-staff on Monday as a day of mourning was declared to honor the victims. A black ribbon was projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House on Monday evening as part of a commemorative light display.
Law enforcement returned control of the seven-story crime scene to mall management on Sunday night, though the date for its reopening has yet to be announced.
The officer credited with saving many lives by stopping Cauchi, Insp. Amy Scott, will undergo questioning by detectives on Tuesday.