The full timeline of the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing as heard in the coronial inquest

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3 days ago

It took six minutes for countless lives to be changed on April 13, 2024.
Joel Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi Junction armed with a knife towards the tail end of the school holidays, a busy period for the shopping centre.
WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.
He killed six people — Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Faraz Tahir, and Pikria Darchia — five of whom died at the scene and one in hospital.
Ten people were also stabbed but survived, before NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott fatally shot Cauchi after a tense foot pursuit.
The NSW Coroners Court heard Cauchi was unmedicated for schizophrenia, and his web history showed he was "preoccupied with weapons, with violence and with mass killing" since 2022.
The day will never leave the families of the victims, the witnesses, shoppers, retail staff, security, first responders, and members of the public simply in the area at the time.
This is the complete chronology of how the attack happened, according to the coronial inquest that finished sitting after five weeks of hearings.
A woman referred to as CR1 is the main operator inside the Westfield security control room beneath the shops, watching the centre's 706 CCTV cameras.
Coming in and out throughout the day is a man known in court as CR2, who is rostered onto a "roving" shift.
There are 15 security guards located throughout the centre at this time.
At 2:55pm, CR2 leaves CR1 in the control room to attend a training session with Glad and Westfield operator, Scentre, in the management office above the retail stores.
Cauchi had spent the day roaming Westfield, detouring to Bondi Beach before re-entering at 3:22pm.
He walks across the air bridge on level 4 nine minutes later.
CR1 leaves the security control room to use the bathroom, which is a few metres away from the door.
The CCTV screens are now unmonitored.
Forty seconds later, Cauchi stabs Dawn Singleton near Sourdough Bakery on level four.
Cauchi moves a few metres south of the bakery and stabs Jade Young.
He then attempts to stab a third victim, known as Witness C, outside AJE Athletica, now known as AJE Lifestyle. She retains minor scratches.
Yixuan Cheng is stabbed six seconds later outside the Peter Alexander store, now the site of Stylerunner.
Two more victims, known as Witness D and Witness E, are stabbed outside Cotton On and Lululemon, respectively.
A second later, about 3:33:28pm, security guards Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir are first alerted by customers of the attacks, and call it in via radio.
The pair are also on a roving shift and are standing opposite Gucci and David Jones, also on the fourth level of the centre at the time.
They begin heading south, walking close together, towards the air bridge and the bakery.
Another security guard spots Cauchi from level five and is believed to have called a "Code Black, Alpha" on the radio before losing sight of Cauchi.
Seventh victim Witness F is then stabbed outside of Kookai.
Around the time that Witness G, the eighth victim, is stabbed just inside Myer, the team in the centre management office leave to verify the incident.
CR1 hears a radio broadcast from the bathroom but cannot make out what is said before returning to the security control room.
Ashlee Good is stabbed by Cauchi outside of the AJE Athletica store, followed by 10th victim Witness H.
CR2 takes the lift down to the underground control room to support CR1.
The first emergency call to NSW Ambulance is placed by a member of the public, as Cauchi runs back past the bakery, stabbing Mr Tahir and Mr Taha.
Just before 3:35pm, he also attacks Witness I and the 14th victim Witness X before stabbing Pikria Darchia outside Chanel Boutique.
The 16th and last person attacked, Liya Barko, is stabbed outside Zimmeran on level three at 3:35pm.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott acknowledges the job on police radio while on the road.
Two French civilians Silas Despreaux and Damien Guerot confront Cauchi on an escalator between level three and four, throwing bollards at him.
At 3:36pm, CR1 dials triple-0, but the call does not connect.
Cauchi had been active for about three minutes at the time of CR1's second attempt. She is put on hold for six minutes.
At this point, CR2 is back in the control room and logs in to review CCTV and track Cauchi alongside CR1.
Inspector Scott arrives outside the shopping centre on the corner of Oxford and Adelaide Streets.
Mr Despreaux and Mr Guerot follow behind the police officer near Zara, and head up to level five where Cauchi is believed to be near Boost Juice.
Inspector Scott tells NSW Police via radio she has "got eyes on him … towards Rebel, Myer, Harvey Norman".
She is in "foot pursuit" of Cauchi along level five, reaching the air bridge near Priceline.
He turns to face her and runs toward the officer.
Inspector Scott shoots Cauchi three times at 3:38:40pm, with two of the bullets causing fatal injuries.
A minute prior, CR2 activates the Centre Management Emergency Override system button.
It triggers "EVAC ALL" displays to appear throughout the centre's screens at 3:39pm.
The evacuation alarm sounds at 3:40pm.
Senior ambulance and police officials arrive on the scene, and the topic of a second offender is discussed.
At 3:45pm, the security control room says it is reviewing the CCTV and will confirm the number of suspects ASAP.
Five minutes later, CR1 goes to the Fire Control Room to make a PA announcement for people to evacuate Westfield.
CR2 confirms there was only one offender at 3:52pm, but a police helicopter advises of a person of interest on the rooftop car park at 4:08pm.
Police broadcast about 20 minutes later that Cauchi is the sole offender.
At 3:55pm, paramedics attend to Faraz Tahir.
Emergency treatment takes place outside the centre at 4:15pm, but Mr Tahir dies soon after. It was his first shift at the shopping centre.
The evacuation alarm stops ringing at 4:03pm.
A multi-agency debrief is held at 5:30pm between police, ambulance and Westfield officials.
An ambulance officer confirms eight people have been taken to hospital, including a baby, many with critical injuries.
More than a year after the tragic day, Cauchi's acts and the systemic issues raised continue to devastate the victims' families and friends.
Faraz Tahir was remembered as a hero who came from Pakistan in the hope of a better future.
Yixuan Cheng, also known as Josie, was studying a Master's degree at the University of Sydney and celebrating after an exam.
Pikria Darchia was an artist from Georgia who enjoyed painting landscapes and "cared deeply" about her sons' health and happiness.
Jade Young, named by her grandparents, was a "gentle" and "kind-hearted" architect who adored her family and dog, Teddy.
Ashlee Good was a new mother and fitness enthusiast who said in a video played to court that "being active is part of who I am".
Dawn Singleton was a "private" person and remains loved deeply and fiercely by her friends, parents and partner.
State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan said for loved ones, nothing would "take away their pain".
"Their emotional fortitude … is a testament not only to their strength and courage, but to their unending love for those beautiful souls."