Australia’s most iconic architectural landmark has lit up with a solemn black ribbon to reflect the country’s heartbreak following Saturday’s Bondi massacre.
The knife rampage at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney’s eastern suburbs left six innocent people dead and more in hospital.
As night fell on Monday, the Sydney Opera House, the central marker of Sydney’s global city status and Australia’s most beloved piece of architecture, transformed with a black ribbon projected onto its legendary curved white sails.
Earlier in the day, flags were flown at half-mast in honour of the victims.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced all Australian government buildings, including at Parliament House in Canberra would lower their flags as a mark of “mourning and respect”.
Detectives are still working to piece together evidence regarding the horrific stabbing rampage at a shopping centre in Sydney’s east that left seven dead, including assailant Joel Cauchi.
The victims have been identified as Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young and Ashlee Good.
Eight injured victims remain in hospital with stab wounds, including one in a critical condition, and two in a serious but stable condition. The remaining five, including a nine-month old infant, are in a stable condition.
Cauchi was shot dead by a lone police officer. The 40-year-old man has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.