(USNewsMag.com) – Andrew Cauchi, 76, the father of the man who killed six people on April 14th at a Sydney, Australia, shopping mall, is speaking out about the reason his son appeared to target mostly women during the attack.
The attacker, identified as Joel Cauchi, 40, stabbed multiple people, killing six and injuring a dozen at Westfield Bondi Junction mall. Police have stated that the attack is not terrorism, adding that Cauchi has a history of mental illness.
According to his father, Andrew Cauchi, his son targeted mostly women because he was “frustrated” and “wanted a girlfriend” but had “no social skills.” He added that his son, who suffered from schizophrenia, was a “very sick boy.”
His father also noted that his son was fascinated with knives, noting that he had taken five knives, which he said were U.S. military combat grade, away from his son last year while they were living together in the family’s home in Toowoomba. Police became involved when Joel Cauchi accused his father of stealing his knives. Andrew Cauchi said he was afraid his son would use the knives for violence, telling the police and a friend he was worried he would “be killed in my own house by my own son.” A friend took possession of the knives for safekeeping.
The comments from his father come as New South Wales State Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that police are investigating why he appeared to target only women during the attack. She added that video of the incident shows him avoiding the men and focusing on women during the attack.
An unarmed Pakistani refugee working as a security guard at the mall, Faraz Tahir, 30, was the only male killed in the attack. The other five victims, Dawn Singleton, 25; Yixuan Cheng, 27; Ashlee Good, 38; Jade Young, 47; and Pikria Darchia, 55, were women. According to Webb, the surviving victims were also mostly women. Eight of the injured, including Good’s 9-month-old daughter, remain hospitalized.
Joel Cauchi was shot and killed by police responding to the knife attack.
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