Survivor of Westfield Bondi makes a sad admission to a year’s anniversary of a horrible attack that killed his friend and five others – while Hero Cop returns to the scene
Muhammad Taha protection guard has opened the heartbreaking lasting impact that the Westfield Bondi massacre survived for him.
Today a year ago Joel Cauchi Westfield Bondi Junction entered and people, especially women, started attacking with a fighting knife.
In just three minutes, the 40-year-old six people stabbed fatally and injured ten others.
The 40-year-old lasted only three minutes to put six people fatally and to injure 10 others before they were shot by police inspector Amy Scott.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Ashlee Good, 38, and guard Faraz Tahir, 30, were all killed in the attack.
Taha, 30, was stabbed by Cauchi in the chest next to his friend and colleague Tahir after the couple screamed and ran to the knives in an attempt to stop him.
Tahir, who worked his first service in the Eastern Suburbs shopping center, was wounded and deadly injured by Cauchi before the knives turn on.
The guard still suffers pain from the injuries he sustained a year ago and said that it is unlikely that he will ever return to the same kind of work.
Protection guard Muhammad Taha has opened the heartbreaking lasting impact that the Bondi Westfield massacre survived
Faraz Tahir (depicted) was deadly injured after jumping through the knives
“At the last minute he was with me and everything that happened before my eyes, so it’s very painful,” he told News.com.au.
‘In the past year, everyone who meets me asks me about my health and talks about that incident.
“I am very happy that everyone still reminds me and the efforts we made and the sacrifices we made.”
Taha got permanent stay after the courage he showed during the attack.
The former guard spends his time between Australia and his home country Pakistan.
Taha was able to ask for help via his radio after he was stabbed on the left side of his stomach.
He said that both guards did everything to stop Cauchi, but may have prevented more fatalities if they could have protected themselves.
NSW police officer Amy Scott (second from the left) laid flowers on the memorial view
Members of the public were wreaths on memorial signs during the observation of the first birthday of the Bondi Junction Tragedy (photo)
Flower tribute was laid on Sunday at Westfield Bondi Junction
Westfield owner Scentre Group has now forced cameras and stab-resistant vests after the attack.
However, some proponents do not think that the measures have gone far enough and guards must have the option to be armed with items such as capsicum sprays, bates or handcuffs.
On the birthday of the attack, family members of Tahir Bloemen set up commemorative signs in Oxford Street Mall, Westfield Bondi Junction.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, 39, was one of the visitors who returned to the stage on Sunday to express her respect.
Inspector Scott ran to the fifth level of the Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Center on the day of the attack after he was warned that a man was on a stabbing spree.
She confronted Cauchi and shot him fatally in the chest when he refused to drop the knife.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanian and NSW police commissioner Karen Webb have paid tribute to the victims and survivors.
About the aftermath of the attack, Mr. Albanese said: “We saw a community united in grief, who confirmed a core truth for us all: that love is greater than hatred,” he said.
‘The memories of those who did not come home a year ago live in the love they created, and in the hearts they had touched.
“Remember them today and every day.”
The police commissioner burned the attack a ‘pointless tragedy’ and said that the ‘memory and trauma’ of the Bondi Junction attack will not be forgotten.
