'Code black': Security call amid Bondi Junction stabbing revealed do sex

'Code black': Security call amid Bondi Junction stabbing revealed do sex sex to

May, 07 2025 04:31 AM
Westfield Bondi Junction manager tells inquest of 'code black alpha' moment during stabbing attackIBy Isabella RossTopic:Courts23m ago23 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 4:08amJoseph Gaerlan, who works at Westfield Bondi Junction, became emotional when he spoke about the stabbing attack.   (ABC News: Lia Harris)In short:A Westfield employee who was chief warden on the day of the Bondi Junction stabbing recalled his frustration when trying to "understand what was happening" on the day.Joseph Gaerlan was in the bathroom when he received a "distressed ... code black alpha" broadcast via security radio on April 13, 2024.A coronial inquest is underway at the NSW Coroners Court into Joel Cauchi's fatal attack that killed six and injured 10. abc.net.au/news/nsw-westfield-bondi-junction-manager-fronts-inquest/105262026Link copiedShareShare articleA Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre manager present at the time of the deadly 2024 stabbing says he felt "frustrated" he couldn't get "eyes on the situation" soon after being notified of the "code black alpha" incident.WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.If you or anyone you know needs help:Lifeline on 131 114Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 63613 YARN on 13 92 76Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOutSANE on 1800 187 263Call triple-0 if you need immediate careJoseph Gaerlan was assigned chief warden — an emergency response role — hours before Joel Cauchi's stabbing rampage on April 13 last year.Mr Gaerlan was employed by Scentre Group, the owner and operator of Westfield, less than two months before the attack."[It was] just a standard Saturday of coming to work," he told the coronial inquest, which is in its second sitting week. Mr Gaerlan first heard word of the fatal attack via his radio while in the bathroom just after 3:30pm."I heard a broadcast from one of the security officers, a female, very distressed, [who] had called through a 'code black alpha'."She said, 'You need to hurry, there's lots of blood'."'It felt so quick,' manager recallsUpon receiving the "code black alpha" call — which refers to a threat that needs escalation — CCTV played at the inquest showed Mr Gaerlan running out of the bathroom in the centre's management office, grabbing a blazer from his desk, and taking the lift to one of the retail levels.CCTV showed Mr Gaerlan pacing around the centre, trying to assess the situation, including briefly standing in the spot where minutes later Cauchi would be shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.Counsel assisting the coroner Emma Sullivan asked Mr Gaerlan if the emergency channel on the radios used by centre staff had been implemented during the attack."It was a fleeting thought … the decision was made not to for the simple fact it would be too difficult to move everybody onto that channel," he said, confirming he had been the decision maker.A public announcement warning was not played until just before 4pm on April 13 last year, the court heard. (ABC News: Jessica Rendall)After making his way to Westfield's emergency operations centre at 3:40pm, Mr Gaerlan was still trying to verify information and confirm if police had been contacted."I remember being immensely frustrated because my key focus was to understand what was happening," he said."It felt so quick. There was multiple pieces of information coming from different people and different sources," he said to the court, becoming emotional.Crisis management responses revisitedMs Sullivan questioned Mr Gaerlan over various disparities in his initial statements, versus his evidence in court.One such disparity was that in his notes written three days after the attack, Mr Gaerlan said he believed he heard the female security officer say:"There's a man with a knife".He now rejects having heard this statement, saying if he had heard it at the time, "It would have been a very different reaction".Moment before officer shoots Bondi Junction stabber shown in new CCTVPhoto shows CCTV of a man running with a knife in a shopping centre.The footage shows the moment NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott reached for her gun in its holster as Joel Cauchi ran towards her while brandishing a knife.Ms Sullivan also asked Mr Gaerlan if on the radio he had heard a male security officer say, "I have been stabbed"."I don't recall hearing that," Mr Gaerlan replied.A public announcement warning was not echoed throughout Westfield until 3:52pm, the court heard.Mr Gaerlan said he had undergone prior active armed offender training, and led a practice evacuation of the centre in March 2024 as chief warden.He told the court that following April 13, he and his team had revisited crisis management responses and completed additional training.Posted 23m ago23 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 4:08amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesPakistan's prime minister vows India's attacks will 'not go unpunished'LIVEPhoto shows A man rides his motorbike through rubble in the darkLiberal leadership race narrows to two likely contenders, Ley and Taylor Topic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPhoto shows Angus Taylor Sussan LeyPeter Dutton lands in Canberra as Coalition MPs divide on nuclear policyLIVEPhoto shows Peter Dutton walks through an airport with microphones and cameras surrounding him.ASIC takes action against Macquarie for 'significant' failuresTopic:Business and Industry RegulationPhoto shows Macquarie Group headquarters, SydneyA feedback loop tanked Dutton's campaign in its final weekAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Clive Palmer NPCRelated storiesWhat was learnt about the Bondi stabbings in first week of inquestTopic:CourtsPhoto shows Footage of Cauchi running towards Amy Scott who is holding a gunInternet history reveals Bondi Junction killer was 'planning a strike', inquest toldTopic:CrimePhoto shows Woman stands in courtroom, woman in road in top left-hand cornerFamilies 'support' Bondi Junction stabbing inquest despite Singleton's criticismTopic:CourtsPhoto shows An Asian woman, a blonde woman, a man in security uniform, woman with a dog, a young blonde girl and a European woman.Related topicsBondi JunctionCourtsCrimeStabbingsSydneyTop StoriesPakistan's prime minister vows India's attacks will 'not go unpunished'Topic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows A man rides his motorbike through rubble in the darkLiberal leadership race narrows to two likely contenders, Ley and Taylor Topic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPeter Dutton lands in Canberra as Coalition MPs divide on nuclear policyTopic:ElectionsASIC takes action against Macquarie for 'significant' failuresTopic:Business and Industry RegulationA feedback loop tanked Dutton's campaign in its final weekAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbJust InMember for Lingiari calls out racism at pre-polling boothTopic:Government and Politics6m ago6 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 4:25amRelief felt by Australians as cost of crude oil drops to four year lowTopic:Oil and Gas7m ago7 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 4:24amNew player shakes up regional Queensland electricity monopolyTopic:Electricity Production and Distribution11m ago11 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 4:20amKaren Webb's time as police commissioner was not without controversyTopic:Police12m ago12 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 4:19amMore Just InBack to top
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