A suspect went on a stabbing and shooting spree, killing six people at a busy shopping mall in Sydney, before he was shot dead on Saturday, local media reported. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Westfield Bondi Junction near Bondi Beach as the stabbing and shooting took place.

Seven others were also injured in the incident, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Authorities confirmed that the suspect was shot dead by a female officer of the New South Wales Police.

A report by the BBC quoting New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the suspect was a 40-year-old man who was known to police. She added that the attack was "not a terrorism incident" and that the police are confident there is no ongoing risk.

The attack took place in the city's eastern suburbs around 3:40 pm (local time) and emergency services were called into the mall before 4 pm after reports of multiple people being stabbed.

A mother and her nine-month-old child were among those who were stabbed. They were saved by two men who thwarted further attempts by the suspect to attack them, and used clothes from a store to stop the bleeding of the infant.

Eyewitnesses said they also heard shots being fired in the air.

After the evacuation, a police operation was on at the mall as first responders arrived in response to the stabbing.

Several posts on social media showed people fleeing the mall in panic and police cars and emergency services rushing to the area.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra about the attack in Sydney.

"Our hearts go out to those injured and we offer our thanks to those caring for them as well as our brave police and first responders," he said.

An eyewitness, Ellie Williams (21), said she was having her lunch at the food court on the top floor of the mall when she saw people running and screaming, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

She described the attacker as wearing a hoodie and wielding a knife while chasing people.

"People were so confused and we were told a guy was stabbing people on the floors below. People were being locked into stores and we looked down and saw a guy with a knife wearing a hoodie chasing people," she said.

Another eyewitness, who did not want to be identified, said she was about to enter a Coles' supermarket at the mall when she saw the man pull out a knife and then open fire on the premises. She said she bolted herself.

Source: India Today