Westfield Bondi Junction will be reopened for a “community reflection day” following the deaths of six people in a horrific stabbing rampage that sent shockwaves through Sydney.
Scentre group chief executive Elliott Rusanow said there would be no retail trade at the centre when the doors reopen on Thursday, instead saying members of the community could pay their respects.
Counselling and services will be on site to provide the necessary help before normal trading hours resume on Friday.
Some stores will choose not to reopen, Mr Rusanow said.
“This has been a very difficult time and I want to acknowledge the hard work and tireless efforts of our Westfield Bondi and Scentre Group teams,” he said.
“They have been working through conditions which have been devastating in their minds and in all our minds.”
“The centre will be quiet, allow for reflection to occur as members of the community are able to come and pay their respects.”
Mr Rusanow said part of the centre would be allocated for where tributes could be made for the victims, remaining for a considerable amount of time to allow people to continue paying their respects.
The type and level of music to be played will also be discussed with businesses to not be overbearing on the “serenity” the centre was attempting to create.
Digital advertising screens will also display the black ribbon – the symbol projected onto the Opera House by the NSW Government – instead of advertisements, Mr Rusanow said.
Six people – including five women and a male security guard – were killed by Joel Cauchi, 40, as he attacked innocent bystanders at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney’s east on Saturday.
The victims include mother Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, the daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton, mother-of-two Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Chinese national Yixuan Cheng, 27, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.
Multiple others – including a baby – were injured by Cauchi before he was shot dead.
Mr Ruasnow said members of the victim’s families had consulted with Scentre Group over the reflection day.
“I was with those families yesterday, it was a very emotional experience and we have had the opportunity to provide the reflection moment while the centre remains closed,” he said.
Security has also increased across other Westfield stores since the incident.
Mr Rusanow confirmed increased security and police would be present at Bondi Westfield during the gradual reopening.
He paid tribute to Mr Tahir, who was working at the centre at the time he was fatally stabbed while confirming his family were flying in from Pakistan to pay their own tributes to their son.
“We’re working with his family and all the victims’ family… in how they grieve and move forward from the tragedy,” Mr Rusanow said.
A longer term memorial will be subject to consultation with the families of the victims, he said.
The move follows the centre being closed as police combed the scene during their investigations.
One line of inquiry includes whether Cauchi was targeting women – as five of the six people killed were female.
At least eight of the 12 victims in hospital are women.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Monday confirmed that it remained a “concerning” line of inquiry.
“It’s difficult to say … I mean, it’s obvious to us, and the video evidence does show that and so it certainly will be a line of inquiry,” she said.
Hundreds of exhibits have been seized by police and will be subject to forensic investigation over the coming days and weeks.
More to come.