Sydney mass murder, one of the worst on

record

May 2024 In Sydney a series of shocking events have unfolded. First came the livestream of a young man attacking an orthodox priest with a knife in his church. Bishop Mari Emanuel sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital. Then an angry mob of Christian church goers, turned on the police who had rushed to the scene, demanding from the police to hand the suspect over to them! There were injuries of police and civilians and police cars were vandalised during the incidents. In the meantime, the Assyrian Orthodox bishop has recovered and was released from hospital. Only two days earlier a devastating attack took place at Sydney’s Bondi Junction shopping centre, leaving six dead and many injured in what was described as one of Australians most serious mass murders on record. The victims of a stabbing spree at a Sydney shopping centre, which left six dead and a number of others in hospital, have been identified. Among those killed was first-time mother Ashlee Good, 38, who has been described as an “all-round outstanding human” who died while protecting her nine-month-old baby, who was also injured in the horror attack. Others include security guard Faraz Tahir, who has been praised for his “bravery” in protecting others at Westfield Bondi Junction and 25-year-old Dawn Singleton, who worked at a clothing boutique. Jade Young, 47, who worked as an architect, 27 year old Chinese student Yixuan Cheng, and 55-year-old artist Pikria Darchia were also killed, while the identity of the sixth victim remains unconfirmed. New South Wales Police said they had identified the attacker as Joel Cauchi, of Queensland, with his family describing his actions as “truly horrific”. It has since emerged that he had attempted to join gun groups. The 40-year-old from Queensland, had been known to police, particularly over the last five years, but had not been arrested or charged before he committed the attack. He suffered from a mental illness. Shoppers were left terrified after Cauchi began attacking random members of the public on Saturday afternoon, before he was shot dead by a lone police officer. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the “extra-ordinary” bravery of Australians after the stabbing at the Sydney shopping centre.

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia