At least seven people were killed and several others critically injured in a stabbing spree at a shopping center in Sydney on Saturday, the police and emergency services said.
The alleged offender, who is believed to have acted alone and engaged with "about nine people" was shot dead by a lone police officer who encountered him.
A spokesperson for the emergency services of New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital, said that at least nine people, including a nine-month-old baby, have been stabbed and taken to hospitals across Sydney.
The baby has been taken to Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, while other victims were taken to different nearby hospitals, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing the spokesperson.
Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke said that several injured are in serious condition.
Cooke told a news conference that police were still attempting to identify the offender.
"I do not have information in relation to the offender. I do not know at this stage who he is."
The police haven't found any indication of any motive or any ideology, although they were not ruling out terrorism.
Police said emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction in the eastern part of Sydney, just before 4 p.m. (local time) after reports of multiple people being stabbed, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Eyewitnesses told police shots were also fired.
A single unit officer inspector who was nearby confronted the offender.
The attacker, however, turned to her with a knife before the inspector "discharged a firearm," the police added.
