It happened just a few minutes drive from bondi beach. Panicked shoppers inside the Westfield Centre fled the attacker� s path, before he was shot dead by police. Officers said he was known to the authorities and the attack was likely not a terrorism incident. Katy watson reports now from the scene. Shouting fear and panic in bondi. Chaos in one of sydneys busiest Shopping Centres. Police were called after reports of multiple stabbings, and this is the scene they were met with. The attacker entered the Shopping Centre just after three in the afternoon, maiming people in his path. Outside, shoppers ran for their lives out of the mall. There was relief and terror. Everyone move back i was hiding in the back room just hearing gunshots. It wasjust like the worst thing ever. We saw these people running towards us, and then we heard a shot. My husband dragged us into a shop and the lady locked the doors. He just came in and started floating towards us. All i heard was, put it down, and then she shot him. If she didnt shoot him, i he would have kept going. He was on the rampage. The motive is still unclear, but investigations are very much ongoing. The attacker was shot by a lone female officer. She confronted the offender, who had moved by this stage to level 5. As she continued to walk quickly behind him, to catch up with him, he turned, faced her, raised the knife. She discharged the firearm and that person is now deceased. This was the scene seconds after the policewoman shot the attacker. She followed him alone. But there are still several victims in hospital some in critical condition. One of them a small child. This attack took place at the busiest time of the week, saturday afternoon, at the start of the school holidays. The Shopping Centre was packed, and this is an affluent area a short distance from bondi beach. This is an incident that has shocked a nation little used to Violent Attacks like this. Today, Bondi Junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow australians our brave police, ourfirst responders, and of course everyday people, who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment. And some of the footage is quite extraordinary. Amid the panic, there was indeed huge bravery. This man attempting to ward off the attacker holding a bollard. Australians will be waking up on sunday wanting answers. The acting premier of New South Wales has briefed the media and said that she convened a Crisis Cabinet with other ministers. Penny sharpe added that the premier, chris minns, joined the call remotely. Hed been on a visit to japan and had not left Tokyo Airport since hearing of the incident hours earlier. This is some of what was said. There are really more difficult days ahead. Tonight we hold in our hearts the families and the friends of those who have lost loved ones. We stand with those who are waiting to hear, for those that have been injured, and we really stand by all the medical staff who are fighting to save their lives. But we also thank the ordinary people who will deal with this. What we saw today and what we have seen on our television screens, particularly this afternoon, it is the number of innocent people going about their business who have witnessed shocking events. This is going to be difficult. Its going to be hard for days to come. Theres been a lot of reaction from Around The World with royalty and others sharing their messages of support for the people of sydney. There was a statement from king charles which said there was also a message from the prince and princess of wales. And there was also support shown by new zealands prime minister, christopher luxon, who said that. More on this story as and when we get it. We move on to our other top story today. Iran has seized an israeli owned vessel with 25 crew members on board. State media in tehran said Special Forces from the revolutionary guards boarded the portuguese flagged Container Ship using a helicopter, and were taking it to iranian waters. The incident comes as israel prepares for a possible attack in response to an air strike destroying irans consulate in damascus. The seizing happened in the straight of hormuz just in front of the iranian coast and near the uae and oman. Lets speak to our Diplomatic Correspondent james landale. Hello, james. What more do we know about this seizure . About this seizure . Well, it happened about this seizure . Well, it happened in about this seizure . Well, it happened in the about this seizure . Well, it happened in the early about this seizure . Well, it| happened in the early hours about this seizure . Well, it. Happened in the early hours of about this seizure . Well, it happened in the early hours of this morning. And are ready and Special Forces helicopter has been seen in footage, that has been verified by the bbc, hovering over the deck of the bbc, hovering over the deck of the ship. You can see one person on the ship. You can see one person on the deck, two people climbing down the deck, two people climbing down the rope, and Iranian State media have been very clear and vocal about attributing that to Iranian Revolutionary guard Naval Special forces in response pot. In response, the Israeli Foreign minister has accused iran of an act of piracy, and the military spokesman here in israel has said iran will bear the consequences for this escalation. What i think is really interesting about this is that this is a relatively unusual event to happen. If you think about it, most of the stories weve done recently about Ship Seizures have been on the other side of the iranian peninsula, in the red sea, those have been largely carried out by iranian allies, the houthis in yemen. So this is quite unusualfor Iranian Houthis in yemen. So this is quite unusual for Iranian Forces to do this themselves. That is why some analysts believe this could be the start of an incremental response to the attack on irans consulate in damascus at the beginning of the month which killed a number of iranian generals. 5m . Month which killed a number of iranian generals. Iranian generals. Stay with me, james, because iranian generals. Stay with me, james, because there iranian generals. Stay with me, james, because there is iranian generals. Stay with me, | james, because there is another development within the region. Israels Defence Minister is warning against Revenge Attacks after a missing israeli teenager was found deadin missing israeli teenager was found dead in the occupied west bank. That in turn has sparked a tax in the immediate region, and a palestinian man has been killed and 25 reportedly hurt after dozens of jewish settlers stormed a village during the manhunt for a 14 year old boy who had taken his flock of sheep out to graze from a nearby settlor outpost. Benjamin netanyahu has commented and has said the boys killing was a heinous murder. So, james, i understand that violence has spread to other villages now in the west bank. Just how tense are things . I the west bank. Just how tense are thins . ~ , ,. Things . I think this is Ust A Reminderfi things . I think this is Ust A Reminder offi things . I think this is Ust A Reminder of the fi things . I think this is Ust A Reminder of the fact things . I think this isjUst A Reminder of the fact that i things . I think this isjust a | reminder of the fact that for things . I think this isjUst A Reminder of the fact that for many months now, tension by our attention has been focused very much on gaza and the situation there, and occasionally when the exchanges of fire between israel and hezbollah flares up but quite often we forget that in the west bank itself, there has been a huge amount of violence since the hamas Attack On Israel In October Last year. Hundreds of palestinians have died at the hands of Israeli Security forces and settlers and that violence continues. This latest outbreak is an example of that. A young boy, a 14 year old shepherd goes missing, Israeli Settlers go on the rampage, burning homes and cars while they are searching for him, the body of that young boy is now found that provokes yet more violence. Violence is begetting violence and that is continuing to develop in the west bank, and it is something which i think is worrying a lot of people. James, we leave it there for now. Lets turn back now to the news or iran seizing that israeli owned ship in the strait of hormuz. I can speak to mehran kamrava, who is head of the iranian studies unit at the arab centre for research and policy studies. Hello and welcome to the programme, thank you forjoining us. The seizure of this ship, is it more of. , who are they sending the message to, do you think, iran . There are several intended audiences. First and foremost domestic audiences. Iran doesnt want to seem as if it is not doing anything about the attack on its diplomatic building in damascus. It is sending a signal to both israel and the united states, and it is also sending a signal to regional actors, saudi arabia, united arab emirates, bahrain, qatar, that iran is serious about some sort of retaliatory action and will not necessarily sit quietly. 50. Retaliatory action and will not necessarily sit quietly. So, there has been a necessarily sit quietly. So, there has been a lot necessarily sit quietly. So, there has been a lot of necessarily sit quietly. So, there has been a lot of discussion necessarily sit quietly. So, there has been a lot of discussion that| has been a lot of discussion that israel would be unlikely to retaliate because essentially they would be dealing with state actors, not pirates, and it will probably be western allies retaliate. But if they dont take action, does it then send a message that they can carry on with such things . On with such things . Well, as you can imagine. On with such things . Well, as you can imagine, the on with such things . Well, as you can imagine, the situation on with such things . Well, as you can imagine, the situation is on with such things . Well, as you| can imagine, the situation is quite fluid and its really difficult to guess whats going to happen next. But one scenario is that this is the end of the tit for tat. Israel attacked an iranian diplomatic building, iran captured an israeli ship and we are done until the next time. Or, as a reportjust suggested, could be the beginning of some sort of incremental action that iran is going to take. Let us hope this is the end of it. You know, incidentally, this is classic iranian action. In the past when there have been conflicts between iran and britain, iranians took a british ship, they have taken an american ship, they have damaged deserted ships in the past. So i think this is kind of straight out of irans playbook. find think this is kind of straight out of irans playbook. Of irans playbook. And ust to brina of irans playbook. And ust to bring you i of irans playbook. And ust to bring you some t of irans playbook. And ust to bring you some of h of irans playbook. And ust to bring you some of the h of irans playbook. And just to i bring you some of the supporting commentary particularly from the us, the Defence Secretary has been speaking with his counterpart in israel, discussing those threats, reiterating unwavering us support for israels defence, and also making clear that us support to defend israel against any attacks by iran and its regional proxies, they have theirfull support iran and its regional proxies, they have their full support and that ship must be returned. Do you really think that that is it, then, from iran . Does that show them to be Strong Enough to their supporters and iranians as well . And iranians as well . Thats a really good and iranians as well . Thats a really good question, and iranians as well . Thats a really good question, and and iranians as well . Thats a | really good question, and one and iranians as well . Thats a really good question, and one thats very difficult to answer. I think we will have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of days. I think its also important to keepin days. I think its also important to keep in mind that iran prefers to engage israel on its own terms, not on israels terms, or on the us terms. So, we could be seeing the end of this and then in a month from now, we might see some sort of, may be an israeli general getting killed in gaza or in tel aviv or somewhere, so thats quite also consistent with iranian behaviour in the past. I think its very difficult to see. I think its very difficult to see. I think its very difficult to see. I think its also important to keep in mind that the statements coming out of washington are really meant to deter iran from action. We have also heard that american intelligence has said that they do not anticipate getting involved in iranian action against israel, given their assessment of the comparatively limited scope of what iran might do. Just very quickly, what do we know about Iranian Military capabilities . Well, we know that they can hit with Pinpoint Accuracy as far as israel with their missiles, but at the same time, we have seen that iran has been quite reluctant and has actually been eager to de escalate tensions. Actually been eager to deescalate tensions. ~. ~ tensions. 0k, mehran kamrava, thank ou ve tensions. 0k, mehran kamrava, thank you very much tensions. 0k, mehran kamrava, thank you very much indeed. Staying with the middle east. This week, the uks Foreign Secretary, lord cameron, said the uk will not block arms sales to israel, after reviewing the latest legal advice on the issue. But pressure on the British Government continues to mount, with critics saying Weapons Exports to israel could make britain complicit in alleged breaches of International Humanitarian law. Our analysis editor ros atkins explains. This week, the uk Foreign Secretary, lord cameron, gave an update on arms sales to israel. Our position is in line with our international partners. So far, no like minded countries have taken the decision to spend have taken the decision to suspend existing arms Export Licences to israel. The governments position is based on legal advice which, as is standard, hasnt been published. But the shadow Foreign Secretary david lammy says that in this case, it should be, that the government is avoiding scrutiny. Arms sales are a focus because of israels actions in gaza. It denies targeting civilians, but it has killed thousands of them. And it has done so, in part, with weapons from the west. The us accounts for 65 of arms sales to israel in the past decade. Germany, over 29 . Italy, over 4 . In 2022, the uk provided 0. 02 of israels military imports. But although the uk isnt a major arms supplier to israel, it is a long time ally, and if arms sales stopped, that would be a significant diplomatic blow to israel. That, though, hasnt happened for now, at least. And whether that may change depends on the uks own rules. They say the government should not grant a licence if it determines there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian law. To judge this, the government receives legal advice. This is a formal process. This isntjust a sort of political decision, ministers sitting round saying, what should we do . There is a formal, technical, almost quasi judicial process. That process led to this decision. The latest assessment leaves our position on Export Licences unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that i and other ministers have received and, as ever, we will keep the position under review. Days before, though, a different legal analysis was shared. 750 lawyers and academics, including fourformer Supreme Courtjustices, signed an open letter to rishi sunak. It stated that the sale of weapons and Weapons Systems to israel fall significantly short of your governments obligations under international law. One of the signatories is former Supreme Courtjustice lord sumption. The whole framework of national law i governing war dictate that the factl that you have been provoked and attacked, however outrageously, does not mean to say that you can do whatever you like. It doesnt mean to say that you can | indiscriminately slaughter innocent civilians and children. It doesnt mean to say thatj you can attack aid convoys. Labour, too, has raised concerns, saying if there is a clear risk that uk arms might be used in a serious breach of humanitarian law, the government must suspend the sale of those arms. As weve heard, the government defends its position, but the pressure is growing, and that pressure increased with israels recent killing of seven aid workers in gaza, including three britons. Israel called this a grave mistake, but israels actions that day played into broader concerns. I think the israelis have got to learn some very hard lessons because its clear that from the very outset of this conflict, they have not been giving priority to the protection of civilians, th