Andrew Coster
Wellington, September 4, 2021
Police continue to investigate the events surrounding yesterday’s (September 3, 2021) horrific Lynn Mall attack and are providing reassurance patrols in the New Lynn area and around the country.
Victims of the attack
Three people remain in Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition today, and two others remain in a stable condition at Auckland City and Middlemore hospitals. Another person remains in moderate condition at Middlemore Hospital.
I can now confirm that five of the six victims transported to hospital yesterday had been stabbed, and one had suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Overnight, we identified the seventh victim in this attack, who received a minor injury which he treated at home. This man narrowly avoided more serious injury when he evaded the attacker.
The victims are four women aged 29, 43, 60 and 66, and three men aged 53, 57 and 77. Our thoughts remain with the victims of this horrific attack and their loved ones, who will be suffering great anguish. We wish to preserve the victims and their families’ right to privacy at what is obviously a distressing time.
How the incident unfolded
Police can now provide more detail of the events surrounding yesterday’s attack and can confirm the attacker travelled by train to the supermarket in Lynn Mall, arriving just before 2.30 pm. The surveillance team following him observed him taking a trolley at the supermarket and begin shopping as we had observed him doing on previous occasions. He was shopping as normal for approximately 10 minutes before the attack started.
As noted yesterday, it was around 60 seconds from the time the surveillance team became aware of a commotion, when they engaged the attacker and shot him.
Following a review of the in-store CCTV footage, we now know that the first victim was stabbed approximately 60-90 seconds before the surveillance team heard shouts and saw people running.
I want to reaffirm that our Police staff showed great bravery and professionalism in their response to this attack. They acted in exactly the way we would have expected them to in this situation, given they were following an individual who had a high level of paranoia about surveillance activity.
Suppression orders
Suppression orders remain in place today, restricting what additional information the Police can release regarding the attacker at this time. Our intention is to release information as and when we are able.
I also want to acknowledge those other people caught up in the attack – the staff at Countdown Lynn Mall and other members of the public who were present, either in the supermarket or in the surrounding mall area. This will have been an incredibly shocking and distressing event for all involved.
An extensive scene examination at Lynn Mall is continuing today, along with a collation of CCTV footage and witness statements.
New Lynn residents can expect to see a continued police presence in the area, as the investigation team works at the scene and officers conduct reassurance patrols.
We have also undertaken to have heightened visibility at other supermarkets and similar locations where people may gather.
Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to Police is asked to get in touch via 105, quoting Operation Rally.
Andrew Coster is Police Commissioner of New Zealand. The above is a press release.
