Investigators are combing through the background of a man who killed six people in a mass stabbing at a Sydney shopping centre in an attempt to work out why he targeted women.
Five women and one man were killed while 12 others – including a baby – were seriously wounded before Queensland man Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by police during the terrifying rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.
A number of the survivors were discharged from hospital overnight while others remained under monitoring, NSW Premier Chris Minns told Sky News on Monday.
Investigations were continuing and a lengthy coronial inquiry would be conducted into the violent and horrific crime but the mentally ill attacker’s motive may never be conclusively known, he said.
“The truth of the matter is, that there are a lot of women in NSW hospitals and women were targeted by this attacker,” Mr Minns said.
“It’s been a terrible day, a terrible weekend for Sydney and NSW and there’s millions of people that are grieving at the moment.”
Extra funding and resources will be given to the coroner to conduct an inquiry into the police operation, mental health services and the attacker’s interactions with authorities in NSW and Queensland.
“We’re determined to get as much information as we possibly can,” Mr Minns told Seven’s Sunrise program.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said videos of the attack unfolding “speak for themselves” and a gendered motive was a clear line of inquiry for investigators.
“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,” she told ABC TV.
“We don’t know what was operating in the mind of the offender and that’s why it’s important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him … so we can get some insight into what he might have been thinking.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio he had spoken to the families of several of those attacked.
“The gender breakdown is of course, concerning,” he said..
“Each and every victim here is mourned … for their loved ones, our heart goes out to them.”
Mr Albanese joined Mr Minns on Sunday to lay flowers at the scene.
Floral tributes continue to grow as the centre is handed back to its owners, while flags are at half mast around Sydney ahead of the Opera House sails being lit with a black ribbon on Monday night.
Among the victims was 38-year-old osteopath Ashlee Good, whose nine-month-old daughter was in a stable condition after undergoing surgery for injuries she suffered in the attack.
Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of multi-millionaire businessman John Singleton, 47-year-old architect Jade Young, 30-year-old security guard Faraz Tahir and 55-year-old artist and designer Pikria Darchia were also killed in the attack.
A 27-year-old Chinese national, Yixuan Cheng, was identified as the sixth person killed by multiple media outlets on Monday.
Ms Webb said a formal identification process would take place involving the coroner during the week.
Cauchi’s estranged family said they were devastated by his actions, expressing sorrow for the people he killed.
“Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened,” they said in a statement.
“He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”
His family added they had no issue with a police officer, Inspector Amy Scott, shooting their son, saying she was only doing her job.
Scentre Group chief executive Elliott Rusanow, whose company owns the shopping centre, offered condolences to the family of Mr Tahir, praising his bravery and that of another security worker who was injured in the attack.
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