Sydney Stabbing Spree: Baby Among Six Victims At Shopping Centre

A nine-month-old baby is among six people that have been stabbed at a shopping centre in Sydney's east, New South Wales Ambulance says, with reports a number of people have been killed.

Emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction, a large shopping centre in Sydney's east, about 4pm after reports of multiple people being stabbed.

"A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of a male at Bondi Junction," police said in a statement.

An alleged offender has been shot and killed by police, an ambulance spokesperson said.

The attack began around 3:40 pm local time with reports of stabbings on multiple floors. Witnesses reported seeing a hooded figure wielding a knife and chasing people. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, some witnesses also described hearing shots fired.

Emergency services responded quickly, arriving at the mall before 4 pm. Authorities evacuated the mall as a large police operation commenced to secure the scene. Social media was flooded with images and videos showing panicked shoppers running from the mall, with police cars and ambulances converging on the area.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing. Authorities have not yet identified the attacker or released a motive. The identity of the person shot by police remains unknown.