One eyewitness who was inside Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall during the recent attack shared her harrowing experience. Crystal Wang recounted arriving at the mall around 3:20 pm, just as the attack unfolded. Upon entering a clothing store, she was quickly informed by the staff about the ongoing danger.
Wang described how the shop assistants swiftly took action by shutting the door, turning off lights, and instructing her to hide at the back of the shop. As panic ensued, she witnessed people fleeing and heard gunshots, which initially left her confused.
Initially mistaking the situation for a power outage, Wang soon realized the severity of the incident. The sound of sirens followed by gunshots heightened her fear, leading her to worry about the possibility of the attacker possessing a firearm.
As management announcements urged customers to evacuate, Wang and fellow shoppers found themselves locked inside the store, unsure whether to follow the instructions or remain in hiding. The tense atmosphere was exacerbated by the panicked tone of the announcements, with the speaker's anxiety evident through their words.
For an hour and a half, Crystal Wang and others remained concealed in the storage room, waiting anxiously for the situation to resolve. Eventually, they were able to leave the shop and exit the mall, relieved to have survived the traumatic ordeal.
