SYDNEY – The Bondi Westfield mall reopened on April 18 for the first time since a man with a knife killed six people there on April 13 before the police shot him.
The operators of the Westfield mall, about 3km from the city’s iconic Bondi Beach, allowed residents to enter to pay their respects to the victims, with stores remaining closed and a white floral tribute laid out on the second floor.
Many wept as they walked through the halls, with advertisements on digital screens replaced by black ribbons.
Normal trading will resume on April 19, while a candlelight vigil at the beach on April 21 will mourn the victims, the authorities said.
“It wasn’t very nice walking through there, it obviously did bring back certain flashbacks,” said Mr Vinny Jovanovski, 33, who owns the Glo Bar cafe on the fifth floor of the mall and witnessed the attacks. “But I mean, we have a lot of love and support from the community. Everybody is being very kind to each other.”
Sydney, one of the world’s safest cities, suffered its second high-profile stabbing in three days on April 15 after the police said a teenager stabbed a bishop in the city’s west.
The attacker in the April 13 stabbings, 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, suffered from mental health issues, the police and his family said.
Wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey, he ran through the mall with a knife, fatally stabbing six people and injuring at least 12 before he was killed by Inspector Amy Scott.
Some shoppers and staff at the mall in Sydney’s east tried to stop him, including Mr Damien Guerot of France, who has become known as “Bollard Man” after holding back Cauchi with a post from a queue barrier.
Ms Martine Wachtenhein, 66, who was among those visiting the mall on April 18, choked back tears as she recounted how Cauchi came within three or four metres of her before Mr Guerot forced him back.
“I could have been one of the people stabbed,” she said, choking back tears.
“If I could send a message to that beautiful man that would be the best thing... I want to thank him. I don’t think he realises the impact it had on me; thanks to him, I managed to escape.” REUTERS
