An innocent university student, Ben Cohen, who was mistakenly identified as the perpetrator of a brutal stabbing rampage at a Sydney shopping mall, has expressed his frustration towards those who spread false information, including the Seven Network. Cohen, a 20-year-old computing science student at the University of Technology Sydney, was wrongly named as the killer on social media, with his photo circulating online. Despite the misinformation, New South Wales (NSW) Police later identified Joel Cauchi from Queensland as the actual murderer.
Cohen described the incident as “highly distressing and disappointing,” particularly criticizing the Seven Network for using his name without verifying the information with the police. The network acknowledged the mistake as “human error” and issued an apology for the error. Cohen’s father, Mark Cohen, urged the NSW Police to disclose the real name of the culprit to prevent further harm caused by the false claims.
David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, condemned the misidentification as a dangerous example of irresponsible journalism. The incident highlighted the importance of accurate reporting in sensitive situations.
The article also revealed the names of the victims of the tragic attack at Bondi Junction Westfield, including Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia, Faraz Tahir, and Yixuan Cheng. The perpetrator, a man from Queensland, was shot dead by a female police officer after attacking multiple individuals at the shopping hub. The community mourned the loss of the victims and called for justice to be served.
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