Westfield owner Scentre has announced it will be reviewing its security arrangements at its shopping centres as part of investigations by authorities after six people were fatally stabbed at its Bondi centre on the weekend.
Scentre CEO Elliott Rusanow said Scentre is “deeply involved in assisting the police investigation.”
“[We] will participate fully in the process, including on the topic of security arrangements and practices at our destinations,” he said.
He also revealed they were “working with a range of community members and other stakeholders” to reopen its Bondi shopping centre, which has been closed since the tragedy on Saturday.
“Last night, police handed Westfield Bondi back to us and we have begun the task of preparing to re-open. We have not decided yet on that date. We expect it will be later this week,” Mr. Rusanow said.
“Our centre is an important social hub. We are carefully considering how we re-open to the community in a way that is measured and respectful.”
It comes after the New South Wales (NSW) government announced that there is to be an independent coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbings.
Premier Chris Minns announced the investigation, saying a budget of $18 million (US$11.6 million) would be forwarded to the coroner’s office “immediately” and that the inquest will have “full staff and resources.”
“Concurrently, an assistant deputy state coroner will be appointed for all forensic investigations that take place during the period of that public inquiry,” Mr. Minns said.
However, the government has ruled out allowing security guards to carry stun guns or other firearms.
“We don’t believe that more firearms in the community is a good decision,” he said, “but we’re looking at the current restrictions that are in place for equipment, for security guards, and the resulting training that would be required if there was to be a policy change.
“We are ensuring they have what they need. I’m not announcing an immediate policy change but we’re reviewing the restrictions in place. Except in relation to firearms.”
Attacker Googled ‘How to Kill’
Meanwhile, police have revealed that the Bondi Junction attacker, Joel Cauchi, had been seen at other shopping centres and searched “how to kill” on Google before the attack on Saturday afternoon.Reports that he had visited shopping centres at Parramatta and Penrith in the days before the attack will be looked into, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.
The investigation is probing his movements in the days and weeks before the attack and even examining his childhood to get a better understanding of what he was thinking, she said.
Police have searched a storage unit used by the attacker, where they found personal belongings including knives, notes, and drawings.
“I’ve made it clear we may not ever get an answer but we will get a picture of his movements and what he’s been doing.”
A nine-month-old baby girl critically injured on Saturday is showing signs of recovery. Victim Ashlee Good’s baby was taken to hospital in critical condition, but NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said her condition had improved.
“Pleasingly, We have seen the nine-month-old baby in the children’s hospital at Randwick have her condition downgraded from critical to serious,” Mr. Park told the ABC. “We hope to have her on a ward over the next few days.”
