Making sense of the Bondi attack

It’s unbearable to think about: people at a shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon, perhaps buying a present for someone or themselves, catching up with a friend, grabbing some essentials to get through the weekend as they think about an upcoming footy match or dinner date. Suddenly, the centre is in an emergency as a man wielding a knife makes his way through the crowds, stabbing people as he goes, leaving dead and injured in his wake.

This is the nightmare that confronted Sydneysiders over the weekend, when six people were killed and many others injured by a man wielding a knife at Sydney’s Bondi Junction shopping centre.

As horrifying as incidents of mass murder are, writes Terry Goldsworthy, they remain relatively rare in Australia.

And while there is much still to be learned about this attack, and many people are grieving and shaken, there were also undoubtedly several acts of great courage in trying to thwart the attacker, from citizens, shopkeepers and police.

Amanda Dunn

Politics + Society Editor

Today's newsletter supported by The Conversation

Politics + Society

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Health + Medicine
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Environment + Energy

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Education
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Arts + Culture

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Books + Ideas
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Business + Economy
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