The family of a man who murdered six people and injured 12 others during a horrific attack at Westfield Bondi Junction contacted Queensland authorities after watching footage of the massacre on television.
Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said the family of Joel Cauchi had sent a message to NSW Police expressing concern for the welfare of Inspector Amy Scott, who shot dead their 40-year-old son on Saturday.
Mr Lowe said Cauchi had struggled from mental health issues and was not in regular contact with his family, instead only occasionally texting his mother his current location.
“I can say when the family viewed footage of the event on TV [that they] believed that may well have been their son and they reached out to authorities,” he said.
Mr Lowe said the family were preparing to release a statement.
He said Cauchi had been diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 17 and had received treatment over years.
Mr Lowe said Queensland Police’s last known interaction with Cauchi had been during a street check in the Gold Coast in December last year while authorities had various contact with the 40-year-old over the past four to five years.
Queensland Police confirmed Cauchi had never been charged or convicted of an offence but said he was aware of an incident involving the 40-year-old and his family in early 2023.
“We responded to an event in early 2023 with he and his family and that will form the subject of the investigation,” he said.
“But he’s never been charged with any offence relating to knife and has never been found in possession of knives in a matter that’s unlawful that would warrant prosecution.”
Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi, one of the busiest shopping complexes in Sydney, at about 3.10pm on Saturday wielding a long knife and began stabbing shoppers.
Mr Lowe said Cauchi’s family believed he was homeless and either living out of a car or backpack.