When we woke up Saturday morning, the news was out.
Several people are feared dead after a stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre.
Six people were later confirmed dead, five of them women, and 11 others were injured.
The perpetrator, later named Joel Cauchi, was shot and killed by a lone female officer who shot her as he came toward her with a knife.
Here’s what we know about Joel Couch.
The morning after the stabbing, the assailant was identified as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Toowoomba, Queensland.
Couch had been to Sydney a month earlier and police later confirmed Couch lived a homeless lifestyle.
He is believed to be unemployed and more or less homeless. Couch is also believed to be single and has no children.
Couch has been diagnosed with mental health issues since he was 17 and is believed to suffer from schizophrenia. It has also been reported that Couch's mental health has deteriorated rapidly in recent years.
Couch had advertised herself online as a male prostitute.
The 40-year-old man allegedly advertised sexual services to both men and women.
He described himself as “an athletic, good-looking 39-year-old guy” who was said to have provided a lot of services, Nine News reported.
The details emerged as police investigated whether Couch specifically targeted women.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webber said the focus on the female victim was a “line of inquiry”.
She added: “It was clear to me, and to detectives, that the offenders were focusing on women and avoiding men and that seemed to be an area of interest.
“Five of the deceased were reported to be women, as were most of the victims in the hospital.”
Couch was known to police.
Queensland Police said they had known Couch for the past few years.
The last time they interacted with him, or at least the last recorded interaction, was in December, when he was being questioned on the street for suspicious behavior.
Days before the attack, Couch posted online inviting people to go surfing at Bondi Beach.
A few years ago, he posted on Facebook looking for gun enthusiasts.
He wrote in a letter: “Hi everyone, I'm looking for a group of people who shoot firearms (including pistols) to meet, chat and get to know them. If you can help me, please send me a DM!”
After the attack, Couch's father told reporters he was shocked by the news and said he had taken a knife from his son before.
He said: “He wanted a girlfriend but he had no social skills. His brain was filled with depression.”
His father Andrew told Sky News: “I'm so sorry. My heart breaks for you. It's so horrific, I can't even explain it.
“You tried to get me to give you a sensible talk but I couldn't. I was heartbroken. I loved my son. When I found out my son was mentally ill, I made myself his servant. I became His servant. Everything I do is because I love that boy.”
Couch’s mother, Michelle, added: “When a parent has a child with mental illness, it’s an absolute nightmare for something like this to happen. My heart goes out to the people our son has hurt.
“If he were sane he would be completely devastated by what he had done, but he was clearly not sane and something triggered his insanity and he lost touch with reality.”
In a separate interview, the Couches said they did not blame police for shooting their son, saying: “We are in contact with the New South Wales Police Force and Queensland Police Service regarding the shooting of our son. There was nothing wrong with the police. “She was just doing her job to protect others and we wish her the best.” “
The victims were Chinese student Cheng Yixuan, Australian businessman John Singleton's 25-year-old daughter Dawn Singleton, and 47-year-old Sydney architect Jed Young, 55. Pikria Darchia and security guard Faraz Tahir.
Ashlee Good, 38, died from her injuries in hospital and her nine-month-old daughter Harriet underwent surgery and is now in a serious but stable condition.
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