2 weeks Ago By Annie Pullar and Rhiannon Lewin
The family of a hero security guard who was killed in the mass stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction earlier this year say they hope an inquest into the tragedy helps prevent further violence in the future. Faraz Tahir was one of six people killed on April 13 in the mass stabbing. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bondi massacre victim’s family reveals hopes ahead of probe into tragedy.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Tahir was the only male victim to die in the Bondi Junction attack and was hailed a national hero for confronting the knife-wielding attacker. He had spoken to his family just hours before the tragedy. “He was serving as a security guard, and he went above and beyond .
.. we definitely consider him a hero,” his family told 7NEWS ahead of a coronial inquiry into the incident beginning on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old refugee was on his first-day shift at the complex when Queensland man Joel Cauchi began attacking people. Tahir had fled persecution in Pakistan before arriving in Australia in 2022, where he intended to make a new life. He and colleague Muhammad Taha heard “people shouting and screaming” and ran to help, Taha recalled as Tahir was farewelled at a Marsden Park mosque in April.
“We were trying to save people,” Taha said. “(Tahir’s) last words were ..
. at that time was ‘let’s find out what’s going on’. “We rushed towards that area and all of a sudden everything happened.
” Taha was “two or three steps away” from Tahir when Cauchi “jumped towards him and he suddenly stabbed him”, he said. Cauchi then attacked Taha, who didn’t realise he had been stabbed at first because he was looking after Tahir. “He just fell down,” Taha said.
“I grabbed him and I pushed him towards the chairs and sofas in the café and I managed to lie him down.” The lives of Jade Young , 47, Ashlee Good , 38, Dawn Singleton , 25, Pikria Darchia , 55, and Yixuan Cheng , 27, were also claimed by Cauchi’s murderous rampage. Now, some seven months after the horrific attack, Tahir ’s family has spoken to 7NEWS, ahead of a coronial inquest into the deaths.
They said they were proud of the courage he showed amid the horrific event. “He did what he was meant to do to protect humanity,” they told 7NEWS. “And his sacrifice will make things better in future.
.. to prevent these sort of incidents happening again.
” Tahir had been excited to start his new life in Australia, his family explained, a country which he had described as “very peaceful”. “That day ..
. he was talking to the whole family on a video call in Pakistan, and he was dressed up, and he told us that he was preparing to go to a job,” they said. “He said it’s my first shift in Bondi Junction .
.. and he was really excited.
“He finally felt safe in Australia ...
he said Australia is very beautiful, Australia is very exciting and very peaceful.” The inquest is set to go over evidence and hear from a handful of witnesses, which the family added is sure to bring back painful memories. “It is an emotional time.
.. to be going through it again,” they said.
“The memories will come back.” However, the family said they believe Tahir should have been equipped with more safety equipment and tools to better handle emergency situations as a security guard. “Dealing with these sort of ad hoc incidents.
.. they need to be provided some sort of special equipments, or protection,” they said.
“So they can at least protect themselves better...
because he couldn’t defend himself.” The NSW State Coroner, Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan, is set to hold a directions hearing in the inquest into the deaths, on Tuesday. - With AAP If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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