A Chinese national has been identified as the sixth fatality in the Bondi Junction stabbing attack.
Yixuan Cheng, 27, an economics student at the University of Sydney, was fatally killed after Joel Cauchi, 40, fatally stabbed six people and injured at least 12 more in a violent rampage at the busy shopping centre on Saturday afternoon.
Cheng’s parents told Chinese media their daughter was still on the phone with her boyfriend a few minutes before the tragedy.
Before the attack, she was on the fourth floor of the mall, shopping and sending her boyfriend photos of herself trying on clothes.
After ending the call to his girlfriend, he saw the news about the stabbing attack in Sydney.
He immediately called her again, but she didn’t answer.
He had planning to marry Cheng after she graduated this year.
Five women and one man were killed while 12 others, including a baby, were seriously wounded before Cauchi was shot dead by police officer Amy Scott.
A number of the survivors were discharged from hospital overnight while others remained under monitoring.
Yixuan Cheng was fatally killed after Joel Cauchi, 40, fatally stabbed six people and injured at least 12 more in a violent rampage at the busy shopping centre on Saturday afternoon.
Among the victims was 38-year-old osteopath Ashlee Good, whose nine-month-old daughter was also injured and remained in intensive care on Sunday after undergoing emergency surgery.
Dr Good, the daughter of former North Melbourne AFL player and board member Kerry Good, was remembered by her family as a ‘beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend’ and an ‘all-round outstanding human’.
An emotional North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson described her death as a ‘bloody tragedy’ as landmarks in Melbourne were lit on Sunday night in tribute.
‘That poor little girl … without her mum now – she was a beautiful, beautiful lady,’ he told reporters.
Other victims identified are 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.
Cauchi’s estranged family issued a statement through Queensland police on Sunday, declaring they were devastated by the traumatic events and expressing sorrow for the victims.
‘Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened,’ it read.
‘He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.’
They had ‘no issue’ with Insp Scott shooting their son, saying she was only doing her job to protect others and hoped she was coping.
Shopping centre owner Scentre Group chief executive Elliott Rusanow offered condolences to the family of killed security guard Faraz Tahir.
‘We are devastated by Faraz’s passing and recognise our team member’s bravery and role as a first responder,’ he said.
Another security worker was among the injured taken to hospital.
More to come
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