A security guard who was stabbed while confronting the man responsible for a deadly rampage at a Sydney shopping center shared his harrowing experience from his hospital bed as weekend trade at the complex resumed.
Muhammad Taha, a Pakistani national, was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed in the stomach by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield a week ago on Saturday. Taha was injured while trying to help his colleague, Faraz Tahir, who was one of the six people killed in the attack.
“I tried to use my hands and somehow he managed to stab me in the stomach,” Mr. Taha told Nine News from his hospital bed on the night of April 19. “I tried to give him first aid, but he was hit in the chest, so he just passed away.”
Mr. Tahir expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for granting him permanent residency in the aftermath of the attack, stating, “for the country I love.”
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Mr. Albanese commended Mr. Taha for his “extraordinary courage” in prioritizing the safety of others over his own. Additionally, French construction worker Damien Guerot, also known as “bollard man” for his heroic actions during the attack, will receive a permanent visa.
Currently, six people remain hospitalized, including a nine-month-old baby girl whose mother, Ashlee Good, tragically passed away from injuries sustained in the attack.
New South Wales (NSW) Police are investigating the motives behind Cauchi’s actions. Cauchi, a 40-year-old man from Queensland with a history of mental health issues, is suspected of targeting women, who comprised the majority of the victims.
Customers are set to return to the bustling shopping center on April 20, exactly a week after Australia’s worst mass killing in years. The complex will have an increased police and security presence, with guards wearing stab-proof vests patrolling each floor.
Sophie Cotsis, the Work Health and Safety Minister, announced that mental health counselors would be available on-site for as long as needed. Additionally, businesses with fewer than 200 employees can access free advice services and mental health training for support.
A candlelight vigil will be held at Bondi Beach on the evening of April 21, including a minute of silence to honor the victims. Mr. Faraz, a refugee from Pakistan fleeing persecution, will be laid to rest at a funeral in western Sydney on April 26.
