Summary
- About 2pm police received calls about a man wearing a balaclava and wielding a large butcher’s knife in the vicinity of King Street.
- He shouted “Allahu Akbar” and for police to “fucking shoot me in the head”.
- He has since been identified as a 20-year-old man from Marayong.
- The man stabbed a 41-year-old woman in the back in what appears to be a random attack.
- Three members of the public engaged and restrained the “clearly dangerous” man, using a chair and a milk crate, near Wynyard railway station.
- Emergency services and police responded and the man was arrested.
- Within the next 30 minutes police discovered the body of a 24-year-old woman in an apartment on Clarence Street.
- Police believe the two incidents are linked.
- The man was found with terrorist information on a USB drive about mass casualty crimes overseas, including in North America and New Zealand.
- He has no known links to terrorist organisations.
- Police said the man had a long history of mental health issues, and they were investigating reports he absconded from a mental health facility.
- He was known to police but “his history was unremarkable compared to the of gravity of the crimes he committed”, according to the New South Wales police commissioner, Mick Fuller.
- It’s expected the man will be charged with homicide and serious assault, and potentially – if it becomes a terrorist incident – there will be charges relating to that.
Updated
Here is our full story wrapping up today’s events.
ABC reports the 41-year-old woman who was stabbed this afternoon is recovering well, but unlikely to be discharged from hospital tonight.
Sydney stabbing: 41 year old woman who was stabbed in the back in Sydney CBD is stable, conscious and talking. Hospital says she’s recovering well and is unlikely to be discharged this evening @abcnews @abcsydney @rgloveroz
— Nicole Chettle (@nicolechettle) August 13, 2019
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported further details about the discovery of the 21-year-old woman, citing a bystander who said a young man came running to police to report hearing a woman screaming from inside the Clarence House apartments.
There they struggled to enter the building. The officer and the young man tried to gain the attention of those inside by pressing on multiple apartment buzzers.
Soon after a young woman came to the door, a mobile phone in one hand. Visibly distressed, the woman appealed to the officer: “you’ve got to help me.”
Within 10 minutes police had established a new crime scene.
Paul O’Shaughnessy, 37, who played professionally for English football club Bury, and his brother Luke, 30, from Manchester, were in their office when they heard a disturbance. The brothers and two of their colleagues saw the alleged attacker wielding what Paul said was a knife and covered in blood, and chased him.
He told the Guardian at the scene that, together with other onlookers, they had managed to subdue the alleged offender. Paul said the man had yelled “extremist” slogans, but he declined to repeat what he had said.
“We just finished lunch ... We’re just based on King Street and we have a window slightly open so we can hear noise and traffic and we heard a lot of shouting which was now obviously the attacker, and my brother opened the window even more and he said, ‘Mate, there’s a guy wielding a knife.’”
Updated
Updated
Those were the main points from Fuller, but the NSW police minister, David Elliott, also spoke.
The city tonight, celebrates three brand-new heroes. And I think it would only be appropriate for the commissioner and I to thank those three individual citizens who have acted well and truly beyond the call of any citizen in bringing this offender to bear.
Can I also congratulate those firefighters … who have also gone beyond the call of duty.
I’ll be making sure they get the appropriate accolades, and that everyone knows this is how Sydneysiders respond.
Updated
It’s expected the man will be charged with the homicide of a young woman in her 20s, and serious assault charges for the stabbing, and potentially – if it becomes a terrorist incident – there will be charges relating to that.
Updated
Fuller is asked by a reporter about the incongruity of the man shouting “Allahu Akbar” while having apparent white supremacy material on a thumb drive in his possession.
“Does this seem to you the ramblings of a mentally ill man who absconded from a mental health facility a few days ago,” the reporter asks.
Fuller said at this point he would think the incident was a lone actor with mental health issues and no links to terrorism.
“If I had to weigh it now, and I was forced to make a call, I would say the evidence all points to that,” he said.
“But... this is the infancy of the investigation.”
Updated
A third woman presented to a police station with her hand wrapped in a scarf but police said she was perhaps a witness, and not a victim.
Anyone with information is urged to come forward and contact police.
Updated
The arrested man had a history of mental health issues, police commissioner Fuller said, and they were investigating reports he had absconded from a mental health facility.
“I can say that he was known to police with but his history was unremarkable compared to the of gravity of the crimes he committed. I can say he does have a history of mental health, but at this stage, I can’t expand on that. No doubt in the coming days, the investigation will be looked closely at, not just the last couple of days, but certainly the last probably six months to 12 months.
Police were looking at whether mental health and/or drug issues were a factor but “at the end of the day it’s a horrendous crime and he should pay for that”.
Updated
The man was “by definition, at the moment, a lone actor”.
Information was found on him related to other crimes related to mass casualties around the world, police said. This included incidents in North America and New Zealand, he said.
This suggested he has some ideologies relating to terrorism, but police said he has no links to terrorism or apparent links to terrorist organisations.
Updated
From the NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, who is with members of the NSW government for a press conference in Sydney:
At around two this afternoon we received multiple phone calls about a 21-year-old man from Marayong, in the vicinity of King Street armed with a knife and wearing a balaclava.
Over the next six minutes … there was terrifying carnage in that area.
He stabbed a 41-year-old woman in the back – it appears to be a random attack.
Three members of the public who can only be described as highest-order heroes, have engaged this 21-year-old man and have placed him essentially under arrest, even though he was brandishing a large butcher’s knife and was clearly dangerous.
A number of other emergency services were in the vicinity and responded shortly after, and police put this individual in custody.
In the next 30 minutes an expanded crime scene unfortunately identified a 21-year-old woman … deceased.
All the available information we have at hand would link these two crimes.
Our counter-terrorist command immediately stood up and the joint CT team which includes police and state and fed agencies, have assessed all available info in relation to his crime and it is not currently classed as a terrorism based incident.
Updated
Paul Walker, a Seven cameraman, was on the scene and followed the chase through the city, filming the arrest near the corner of Carrington and Wynyard streets.
Walker said the man with the chair, whom he identified as a bank worker, had used the chair “like a lion tamer”, trying to turn the man around as he ran through the city streets.
He said firefighters were trying to move behind him. It was a case of people who didn’t know each other coming together trying to deal with the situation, he said.
They had moved through the city streets and the firefighters were calling out to people to run away, Walker said.
“One guy wanted to kill him, but the firies tried to settle him down. Once he was in a position that was compliant everyone was just trying to work out why.”
Updated
Nine and Seven News have both reported the name of the man arrested today. The NSW police commissioner will be addressing the media in about 30 minutes, and I’ll bring you the updates from that press conference.
Updated
An Uber driver said he had just picked up an elderly couple from Crown Casino when he saw traffic had stopped on King and Clarence, and people fleeing.
“All of a sudden this guy appears with a knife in his hand, covered in blood on his shirt. Next thing, I thought I obviously can’t go through all those cars and, as I’m thinking about doing something, the guy jumps on the front of the car ... and gets up to the very top. I froze for a split second but then I thought I hope he’s not covered in explosives or anything and I quickly accelerated and veered to my left on Clarence Street.
Then I made a right turn to get back on to York Street and there he was again being chased near York and Clarence, by the police and the public, by firies, with chairs and everything they could get their hands on.
I think I saw a couple of police officers, they didn’t have tasers or anything but they had their guns drawn on him.
He was fearless, he was completely fearless. He was on something, I don’t know what he was on. It was a scary moment, I’m sure for a lot of people in Sydney.
A man, whose car was jumped on by the #Sydneystabber has spoken to #9News about the terrifying moments as they unfolded. pic.twitter.com/3vlspQqEh6
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) August 13, 2019
We posted this earlier, but here again is the footage of the incident this driver is speaking about.
Just witnessed incredible bravery from members of the public and @FRNSW officers chasing down a man on a stabbing rampage in Sydney’s CBD. He is now under arrest. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/wNKatejHVp
— Andrew Denney (@Andrew_Denney) August 13, 2019
Updated
This is an evolving story, but here’s what we know so far.
Updated
Death linked to stabbing incident
Guardian Australia has confirmed the woman’s death is linked to the stabbing incident.
Her body was found inside the unit at 3.15 this afternoon, more than an hour after police received the first reports of a knife-wielding man trying to stab people outside in the street.
Police have cordoned off the Clarence Street apartment building. Over the last half hour a number of people – apparently residents – have been escorted out by police. Many of them appeared shocked, and some where emotional. Police are due to address the media again in about an hour.
Police are reassuring people inside the building that they’re safe and to sit tight.
Residents outside aren’t being allowed back inside yet.
Updated
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has responded to the incident, which he described as “deeply concerning”.
The violent attack that took place in Sydney this afternoon is deeply concerning. The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and were able to able to restrain him.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 13, 2019
The motivation for this attack has not yet been determined as Police are continuing with their enquiries. Any further offical information will be provided by the New South Wales Police, who are keeping us appraised through our agencies, including details of casualties.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 13, 2019
Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by this violent attack.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 13, 2019
Updated
Guardian Australia reporter Michael McGowan is outside 118 Clarence Street, the apartment block where the woman’s body was found.
He said police had escorted a woman out of the building – she was not handcuffed – and she sat in the back of an unmarked police car.
Updated
Woman's body found in Clarence Street apartment
The body of a woman has been found at a unit on Clarence Street but police don’t know if the death is connected to the stabbing.
From NSW police:
Inquiries are under way after the body of a woman was found inside a unit on Clarence Street, Sydney, about 3.15pm today.
Officers from Sydney City police area command are on the scene and will conduct inquiries into whether the incident is linked to an earlier stabbing at a hotel on the corner of Clarence and King streets.
Updated
Sydney attacker being wheeled into ambulance on a stretcher at Day St police station @australian pic.twitter.com/rkqgz1ulv8
— Elias Visontay (@EliasVisontay) August 13, 2019
Michael McGowan reports that police have left the press conference area and have gone to a crime scene on the north-east corner of Clarence and King.
Traffic and public transport remains disrupted as officers continue their investigation across multiple crime scenes.
The Clarence Street entrance of Wynyard station is closed, as is King Street between Clarence and York, and Clarence (northbound) between Market and King. Some buses are have diverted to nearby streets to pick up passengers.
Updated
Paul O’Shaughnessy and his brother Luke, from Manchester, were in their office on King Street when they heard a disturbance outside the building.
The brothers and two of their colleagues saw the alleged attacker wielding what Paul said was knife and covered in blood, and chased him.
He told media at the scene that, together with other onlookers, they managed to subdue the alleged offender. Paul said the man – whom he described as caucasian with curly hair – had yelled “extremist” slogans but declined to repeat what he had said.
Updated
Wood said it had been reported to him that the man had yelled Allahu Akbar; this had not been captured as part of the “evidentiary base” but would form part of the investigation.
(Some observers online have noted that the man’s pronunciation suggested he wasn’t familiar with the phrase.)
Wood said he wanted to acknowledge the bravery of the bystanders who helped apprehend the suspect.
“They were significantly brave people. To approach a person with a mind set of obviously what this person [had], with clear evidence of a stabbing previously, these people are heroes.”
He said their actions had prevented others from being hurt.
“These members of the public, going about their day-to-day business, have jumped into a situation which was extremely dangerous and hostile and they have brought a person, who we will be alleging has stabbed an innocent person for no specific reason, into custody and allowed us to do our job.”
Updated
Superintendent Gavin Wood of NSW police confirmed there was one victim, a young woman who was stabbed in the back. Wood said there was nothing yet to suggest she was known to her attacker.
There are no other injuries at this stage I can confirm. The offender has attempted to stab multiple people. Those attempts thankfully were unsuccessful. Again I will put on record we have a female person with a stab wound to the back currently being treated by paramedics and is en route to a Sydney hospital.
Updated
NSW police have just held a press conference. They said the danger to the public was over, the man was acting alone and he was now in custody.
“The threat to the community has been negated and I want to make that very, very clear,” he said.
“We are in the infancy stage of the stabbing investigation. There are a number of crime scenes. They are being thoroughly investigated by investigative and forensic staff as we speak and the investigation is ongoing.”
Updated
Photos clearly show the young man carrying a large kitchen knife. The photos are taken from inside a car on the corner of Clarence and King, and appear to line up with the footage published earlier showing the young man jumping on a car bonnet and yelling at bystanders.
We were just coming across the guy with a knife on the street. Apparently he had some blood on his shirt. We all are safe in the car. #breaking
— 𝔸𝕪𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕒 (@Ayusha77) August 13, 2019
シドニーでナイフを持った人が暴れてるところに遭遇… こわい https://t.co/fqcJSC9uZt pic.twitter.com/DF4bkaCCIK
Woman stabbed inside Sydney hotel
NSW police have confirmed one victim, a young woman who was stabbed in a nearby hotel. She has been taken to hospital in a stable condition.
This, from NSW police:
A short time later, members of the public detained the man before police attended and arrested him.
He has since been taken to Day Street Police Station.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command, and various specialist police, are conducting proactive patrols of the area, but it is believed there is no further threat to public safety.
A number of crime scenes have been established and a number of road closures are in place, which is believed to have significant impact on traffic and public transport this afternoon.
Members of the public are urged to avoid the area.
Updated
Guardian Australia’s Michael McGowan is at the scene. He writes:
Police have King Street closed between the corner of York and Clarence streets. Police are saying the Hotel CBD is a crime scene, and have closed it while patrons are still inside. Ambulance, police and fire rescue crews are on site, and there are a lot of onlookers at the scene.
There are multiple reports from apparent witnesses of stabbings. Police are yet to confirm any injuries, but we will bring updates as they come.
Video of man being arrested after police operation in Sydney's CBD on King and Clarence St. #SydneyCBD #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/cTs063eKM5
— Daniel Timms (@deadsetdaniel) August 13, 2019
So insane! A random dude just started stabbing people in the city right outside where we were having lunch. I saw people running so I ran towards him with a few other guys.
— JackHuddo | #GangGang (@JackHuddo) August 13, 2019
He ran all the way back to near my work where a lot of others had cornered him for the police! #sydney pic.twitter.com/SQvqfDRz88
Updated
Dramatic footage shows the young man walking across a city street, waving a knife and jumping on to the bonnet of a car. The vehicle drives forward and he rolls off the back before walking away, chased by members of the public.
He screams: “Shoot me, fucking shoot me in the fucking head, shoot me, I want to fucking die.”
In separate footage members of the public and firefighters restrain him on the ground with cafe chairs and milk crates. He is clearly a young man, and has blood on his hands and shirt.
Another man appears to run in and kick him, yelling: “Do you know how many people you just stabbed?” He tells others around them that the assailant had stabbed a woman, and then swallowed a bottle of pills.
Note, these claims can’t be independently verified at this point.
Just witnessed incredible bravery from members of the public and @FRNSW officers chasing down a man on a stabbing rampage in Sydney’s CBD. He is now under arrest. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/wNKatejHVp
— Andrew Denney (@Andrew_Denney) August 13, 2019
Updated
An Uber driver, Leon, told 2GB that a shirtless man covered in blood and carrying a knife, had leapt across the bonnet of his car on Clarence Street. The man was being chased by police and firefighters, he said.
The man appeared to be aged 23 to 24 and looked like he was “on something”.
Another caller, Tom, said he had just finished a meeting when he saw a man with a knife being tackled to the ground and detained by police.
Updated
A man has been arrested in Sydney in a major police operation responding to reports of a man armed with a machete running at members of the public.
It appears the man in question has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/hMLyKhUDZi
— Laura Jayes (@ljayes) August 13, 2019
New South Wales ambulance services said no patients were being treated for stab wounds.
NSW police said they could not confirm any injuries but an operation was still under way and they asked members of the public to stay clear of the area.
Updated
Police and emergency services are attending an incident in the Sydney CBD, on the corner of Clarence and King streets, in response to reports of an armed man.
More to come.
Updated
