Sydney mall stabbing: France’s ‘Bollard Man’ gains Australian residency for confronting killer, thanks to PM Albanese

Guerot was nicknamed “Bollard Man” on social media after security camera footage showed the 31-year-old standing at the top of an escalator at the Westfield Bondi Junction mall on Saturday and warding off knife-wielding Joel Cauchi with a plastic barrier post. Cauchi fled down the escalator, and people on Guerot’s floor were safe.

“It’s just unbelievable,” he said. But, he added, “How can I be also happy when … many people and families … are very sad for their loss?”

Guerot was also filmed brandishing a plastic chair as he ran toward Cauchi behind Police Inspector Amy Scott. Guerot along with fellow French national and colleague Silas Despreaux were with Scott when she ended Cauchi’s rampage with a fatal shot.

Despreaux, like Guerot, had chased Cauchi and threw a barrier post at the killer but didn’t seem to appear on footage posted on social media or broadcast by the news.

“Two of our compatriots behaved like true heroes,” Macron posted in French on social media. “Very great pride and recognition.”

Albanese told Guerot through a news conference on Monday: “You are welcome to stay for as long as you like.”

His lawyer, Belinda Robertson, said her client had been told the prime minister did not have the power to grant citizenship. However, Guerot was granted permanent residency on Thursday, she said.

“Yes, we certainly will,” Albanese told Radio FiveAA when asked if he would consider citizenship for Taha. “Muhammad Taha, he confronted this guy, the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi, on Saturday. And it just shows extraordinary courage. That’s the sort of courage that we want to say thank you to, frankly.”

Taha said from his hospital bed that he believed he deserved “recognition and consideration for citizenship.” Taha highlighted the work