During the shopping center massacre in Sydney, the perpetrator reportedly specifically targeted women
Five of the six people stabbed to death by Joel Cauchi, 40, in the Westfield Bondi Junction complex were women.
One victim, Ashlee Good, died protecting her baby – and was said to have been ‘targeted’ alongside other women in the Sydney shopping centre.
Armed with a long blade had concealed in his backpack, the attacker began his deadly rampage, sending the crowded complex into panic on Saturday afternoon.
Cauchi was only stopped after being gunned down by police inspector Amy Scott, who had been nearby checking liquor licences at hotels by sheer coincidence.
Yixuan Cheng was identified as the sixth victim of the stabbing (Picture: SEVEN)
Jade Young worked as an architect in Sydney (Picture: NSW Police)
Ashlee Good died from her wounds in hospital (Picture: PA)
Authorities are now investigating if he ‘focused on women and avoided the men’ during his stabbing spree.
New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb was asked by ABC about the footage of the massacre that appeared to show Cauchi targeting women.
She replied: ‘The videos speak for themselves, don’t they?
‘It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to detectives that seems to be an area of interest that the offender had focused on women and avoided the men.
Dawn Singleton pictured with her fiancé Ashley Wildey (Picture: Facebook)
Pikria Darchia was among the people who died from their wounds (Picture: PA)
‘Five of the deceased are women and the majority of victims in hospital are also women.’
Meanwhile, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese described the breakdown of victims as ‘concerning’ in an interview with old ABC Radio.
Asked about any links between the attacker and misogynist networks, he said: ‘All of that investigation will take place, it will be comprehensive, and nothing will not be looked at in this matter.’
This comes as the final victim of the stabbing has been named as a student from China.
People pay their respects at the scene of Saturday’s mass stabbing at Bondi Junction, Sydney (Picture: Reuters)
PM Albanese confirmed that Yixuan Cheng was among those killed in the knife attack.
He said: ‘She was a Chinese national studying here who’s lost her life, along with Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia and the security guard (Faraz Tahir) who lost his life, a refugee who’d only been here for a short period of time.’
Four victims had been named as Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of Australian businessman John Singleton, 47-year-old Jade Young, who worked as an architect in Sydney, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia and security guard Faraz Tahir.
Ashlee Good, 38, succumbed to her wound in hospital, while her nine-month-old daughter Harriet has undergone surgery.
Little Harriet, who only survived because of the heroic efforts of her mum, is among the several others stabbing victims who are recovering from their injuries.
Flags on government buildings around Australia flew at half-staff on Monday as a day of national mourning was declared to honour the victims.
A black ribbon will also appear on the sails of the Sydney Opera House as part of a light display.