Five Killed In A Brutal Stabbing In Sydney, Perpetrator Shot Dead

The body of the stabbing perpetrator that killed five people in Bondi Junction, Sydney, Australia, with the female police who shot him. (The West Australian)

JAKARTA - At least five people died in a stabbing at a shopping center in Sydney, the capital of the State of NewSouthWales in Australia, on Saturday, police and emergency service agencies said.

The suspect, who was involved with "about nine people", was shot dead by police.

A New South Wales emergency services spokesman said eight people, including a nine-month-old baby, were stabbed and taken to various hospitals in Sydney.

The baby has been taken to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick, while other victims have been taken to several nearby hospitals, broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted the spokesman as saying.

The condition of the victims is still unknown but they are being treated for trauma.

Police said emergency services were called in to the Westfield Bondi Junction in the eastern region of Sydney, before 16.00 local time after reports of several people being stabbed, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"A critical incident occurred following the shooting of a man in Bondi Junction," the police said in a statement quoted by Antara.

Footage broadcast by local broadcasters showed a large number of vehicles and emergency personnel.

Armed police were also seen conducting a search of the roof where the car was parked.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the mass stabbing "very sad."

Albanese said he had been briefed by the Australian Federal Police following a man's attack on Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday afternoon.

"I was horrified to hear what happened at Bondi Junction this afternoon. I thank NSW police, emergency services and the public for their courage in dealing with this shocking incident," said New South Wales PM Chris Minns in a statement.