At least six people have been killed in a stabbing in a shopping mall in Australia. Several others were injured, including a 9-month-old baby.
The attacker was shot dead by police at the Sydney shopping center.
Eight people were taken to hospitals around Sydney for treatment, including the nine-month-old child who has undergone surgery.
Webb addressed the media on Saturday night, revealing police believe the attacks were random, not targeted, but are still investigating a possible motive.
The commissioner added that police believe they know who the offender is but are awaiting formal processes to be undertaken.
“We know a little bit about this person but we’re waiting to confirm his identification,” she said.
“If in fact it is the person we think it is, we don’t have fears for that person holding an ideation. In other words, that it’s not a terrorism incident.
“He is known to law enforcement but we’re waiting to identify him formally.”
Webb said, if the man is to be formally identified as suspected, NSW Police “are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased.”
The shopping centre will be closed for trade on Sunday and the crime scene will remain ongoing for several days.
Police said a man walked into the centre at about 3.10pm before he returned 10 minutes later at 3.20pm and began stabbing people.
“It is clear that during that engagement he caused harm to those people, we believe, by stabbing them with a weapon he was carrying,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said.
Police rushed to the scene after they received multiple calls from members of the public.
