Man shot in Sydney mall after reports of fatal stabbings, baby said to be among those attacked

A man was shot at a shopping centre near Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Saturday following reports of multiple people stabbed, police in the city said.

Emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction just before 4pm (0600 GMT) following the reports, New South Wales Police said.

“People are urged to avoid the area,” a statement said. “Inquiries are continuing in relation to the incident and there are no further details.”

News website news.com.au reported witnesses claiming a man began stabbing shoppers at random before being shot by police.

Australian media said four people had died and more had been injured.

A New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson said eight people, including a child, had been taken to hospital.

There were reports that a nine-month-old baby was among those who were stabbed.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the shopping centre after the incident, news site news.com.au reported.

State broadcaster ABC reported some people remained trapped inside the mall.

Two witnesses told Reuters they heard shots fired.

“Even 20 minutes after people were rushed out of the mall, I saw SWAT teams of people sweeping the surrounding streets,” one of the witnesses said.

One witness said they saw a woman lying on the ground and took shelter in a jewellery store.

A witness told ABC the attacker had been shot by a police officer.

“If she did not shoot him, he would have kept going, he was on the rampage,” said the man, who did not give his name. “She went over and was giving him CPR. He had a nice big blade on him. He looked like he was on a killing spree.”

New South Wales state police said a police operation was under way but did not provide further details.

Several posts on social media showed crowds fleeing the mall and police