Joel Cauchi from Queensland has been named by the Australian police as the attacker who killed six people with a knife and wounded 12, including a child, in a shopping center in Sydney on Saturday, writes the British "Guardian".
Police believe the 40-year-old had mental health issues and had only moved to New South Wales a month before going on his killing spree. Australian media reports that Cauci had no fixed address, and police do not believe he knew any of his victims.
"We continue to work on profiling the attacker, but at this stage it is clear to us that the attack is related to the mental health of this person. So far, nothing - no information, no evidence we have obtained, no notification - indicates that the attack had any special motivation , ideology and the like," NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cook said at a press conference.
It is believed that Cauci was particularly interested in knives. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe confirmed police were investigating an incident in early 2023 when Cauchi called them after his family took his knives.
"This gentleman was diagnosed with mental illness when he was 17 years old and has been receiving treatment over the years. Our investigation shows that in recent years his mental health began to deteriorate," said Low. Cauci was killed in a shopping center after allegedly attacking a policewoman with a knife.
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