Sydney knife attacker had mental health issues

The attacker was named by police in New South Wales and Queensland as Joel Cauchi, 40. Cauchi's family recognized him and contacted police on Saturday after seeing news reports of the killing.

“The family, when they saw the video of the incident on TV, thought it might be their son and they contacted the authorities,” Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said.

People pay their respects at the scene of Saturday's stabbing at Bondi Junction, Sydney, Australia on April 14, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The family said they were heartbroken by his actions and expressed their condolences to the victims.

“Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to understand what happened,” the family said in a statement. “He has struggled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”

Joel Cauchi stabbed six people to death and injured at least 12 before being shot dead by Inspector Amy Scott. “It was a horrific scene,” New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters.

“To this point, we have no evidence gathered or intelligence to suggest that this was motivated by any particular motive, ideology or other reason.”

Cauchi had recently moved to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, from neighbouring Queensland. Police said they searched a small storage unit he rented but found no significant evidence that an attack was imminent.

Queensland Police said Cauchi was diagnosed with mental health issues when he was 17 and had been in regular contact with police over the past four to five years.

Cauchi has been living a vagrant lifestyle, recently sleeping in his car and rarely communicating with his mother via text messages.

Attacks like Saturday's stabbing are rare in Australia, a nation of about 26 million people with some of the strictest gun and knife laws in the world .

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ke-tan-cong-bang-dao-o-sydney-co-van-de-ve-tam-than-post291725.html