King Charles III of Britain expressed shock and horror on Saturday following the senseless stabbings at a shopping center in Sydney that claimed the lives of six individuals, including a nine-month-old baby.
Australian authorities reported multiple stabbings by an unidentified assailant, who was later confronted and fatally shot by a policewoman hailed as a national hero.
The tragic incident unfolded at the bustling Westfield Bondi Junction mall complex, teeming with Saturday afternoon shoppers.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, King Charles III conveyed his profound condolences, stating, “My wife and I were utterly shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic stabbing incident in Bondi.”
He continued, “Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack.”
Acknowledging the ongoing investigation, the King also extended gratitude to the first responders and emergency services involved in the immediate aftermath.
Meanwhile, Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, shared their sentiments on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing shock and sadness over the stabbings.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others,” they stated.
Both King Charles III and Catherine have stepped back from frontline royal duties as they undergo treatment for cancer. Catherine’s recent announcement of her cancer diagnosis followed Charles’s revelation of undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer detected during benign prostate surgery.