The man who killed six people in a brutal stabbing rampage at a Sydney shopping centre had previously attempted to access weapons and had advertised himself online as a male escort, according to his social media posts.

Joel Cauchi, 40, has been identified as the man caught on camera wearing a rugby league jersey and wielding a knife in the Westfield at Bondi Junction yesterday afternoon.

Posts in two separate Facebook groups from 2020 show that Cauchi had been looking for "groups of people who shoot guns, including handguns, to meet up with, chat with, and get to know".

READ MORE: Five victims of six people killed in Sydney stabbing named

"Please send me a DM if you can help me out! I live in Brisbane by the way," Cauchi posted.

Cauchi had also uploaded a profile to an escort website, where he was soliciting sex work.

The profile, which has since been removed, describes Cauchi's physical characteristics and the type of escort work he was available for.

"I am an athletic, good looking 39-year-old guy," the profile reads.

READ MORE: Police investigate whether Sydney stabbing spree killer targeted women

Family saw stabbing unfold on TV

Queensland Police said Cauchi's family came forward to identify their son to authorities after they saw news reports of Saturday's attack on TV.

Cauchi's family said they were "absolutely devastated by the traumatic events".

"Joel's actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened," a statement said.

"He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager."

The family said they had "no issues with the police Officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is coping alright".

Police are now investigating Cauchi's "life leading up to yesterday" in the aftermath, and believe he had lived an "itinerant lifestyle" of sleeping rough and had a long history of mental health issues.

Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said Cauchi was believed to have been sleeping rough or in a vehicle around Queensland before moving to New South Wales last month.

"He has moved from Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, Carina and back to his family's residence," Lowe said.

Cauchi was "street checked" by police on the Gold Coast in December 2023, but had never been arrested or criminally charged in Queensland.

Lowe said Cauchi was diagnosed with mental illness at age 17 and that Queensland Police were investigating whether his mental health had declined over recent years.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police there were also now investigating Cauchi's life and movements before the horrifying attack.

"This will be an active investigation for many days and perhaps weeks while we identify not only the movement of the offender, not just yesterday, but the hours, the days, the weeks, his life leading up to yesterday," she said.

"We do understand that there is a history of mental health."

Facebook posts asking for company

In the days before the stabbing at Bondi Junction, Cauchi had made other Facebook posts seeking to meet up with other people.

"Hi I am surfing Bondi this afternoon if anyone wants to meet there for a surf!" one read.

Another read: "Hi I am looking for a fluent Swedish speaker for a language exchange. I am a fluent English speaker and can teach that in exchange for being taught Swedish if you are interested."

The posts have since attracted negative reactions and comments after Cauchi was linked to the stabbing attack.

READ MORE: 'Enormous courage and bravery': Police officer's actions praised

Storage unit central to probe

In recent weeks, Cauchi is believed to have been living rough in Sydney.

He'd been sleeping in a small storage shed he'd rented at a facility in Waterloo, about a 10-minute drive from Bondi Junction.

What else is inside is now central to the police investigation.

"We know that shortly after coming to Sydney, (Cauchi) took possession of a storage facility that has been identified and we have worked through that very small storage facility," Cooke said.

"As I had said last night, there is still to this point nothing that we have, no information we have received, no evidence we have recovered, no intelligence we have gathered, that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation, ideology or otherwise."

READ MORE: Video emerges of shopper confronting armed man with bollard at Bondi Westfield

Attacker 'confused' at restaurant before rampage

CCTV has emerged of Cauchi at a Vietnamese restaurant around five hours before the attack.

At 10.05am, he couldn't pay for his chicken curry at Saigon Noodles in Bondi Junction, not far from the shopping centre.

He returned two and a half hours later, ordered the same meal again and paid for both.

Restaurant worker Rogata told 9News that Cauci appeared "confused".

"He was taking (so) long and then said, 'Ok, I'll just order chicken red curry'," the worker said.

But as he left, Cauchi appeared disorientated and fell into a shopfront.

A man went to help him up, unaware of what he was about to do.

"He looked like he was drug-affected," the man said.

Witnesses have said they spotted Cauchi inside the Westfield shopping centre on Friday afternoon – about 24 hours before the attack – looking "agitated" and wearing the same clothes he would be seen in during the stabbings.

Early life, concerns from neighbours

Cauchi lived in Toowoomba for most of his life.

Neighbours told 9News he was a troubled young man.

"He sort of kept to himself, he was quiet he didn't mix a lot with other children, I don't think," one said.

He spent recent months in Ipswich and Brisbane and left a worrying mark on those he met.

A man who he used to sharpen two of his hunting knives three years ago said he "looked like he probably wasn't all there".

What we know so far

• Six people have been killed in a mass stabbing attack at Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
• The man, 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott at the scene. Police do not believe he acted "with ideation".
• Twelve people were taken to hospital, though police said others may have presented independently with minor injuries.
• Five women and one man were killed in the attack, which also left a dozen injured.
• They include Faraz Tahir, 30, a refugee who started working as a security guard that day; Ashlee Good, 38, a mum whose baby was also stabbed; Dawn Singleton 25, a shop worker and daughter of businessman John Singleton, and architect and mother-of-two Jade Young, 47, and Pikria Darchia, 55.
• Three people – a woman, man and a nine-month-old baby girl – remain in a critical condition.
• Eight others are stable and one woman has been discharged from hospital.
• Details are emerging of heroic acts by shoppers who tried to help as the rampage unfolded.
• Mobile phone footage shows crowds hiding in stairwells, with other shoppers saying they were evacuated to the roof and others cowered in shops.
• The shopping centre will remain closed on Monday as police work through the crime scene.

If you're struggling, know that help is available 24/7.

Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.

Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800 or chat online.

Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.

1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or chat online.

13 Yarn: Call 13 92 76.

MensLine Australia: Call 1300 78 99 78.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

The aftermath of a mass stabbing in Sydney's Bondi Junction is feared to potentially leave thousands of people, including children, traumatised as experts warn not to ignore the symptoms.

Knife-wielding Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured a dozen more, including a nine-month-old baby, at the Westfield shopping centre yesterday afternoon.

He was shot dead by police inspector Amy Scott.

READ MORE: Prime Minister says shopping centre attack 'horrific act of violence'

Since then, heartbreaking and traumatic scenes from inside the building have emerged to show shoppers screaming, crying and desperately fleeing for their lives.

One father was seen covering his children's eyes as he led them away from what was unfolding while another father grabbed his daughter and hid in the Cotton On Kids store.

Seconds later, Cauchi would stab a woman close by where the little girl stood. 

Meanwhile, retail stores like Kmart lowered their shutters to protect shoppers inside as the building was locked down.

As the city reels from the events of yesterday afternoon, NSW Health has declared a disaster mental health response and deployed additional staff trained in trauma and grief counselling to Bondi Junction and on the 24-hour phone helpline at 1800 011 511.

TIMELINE: How the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing attack unfolded

"If anybody rings who's been impacted by the events of Bondi yesterday, their call will be expedited," NSW Health chief executive officer Deb Wilcox said.

"They'll speak to a trained clinician who can give them any additional referrals and any further advice they might need."

As vision of the stabbing spree spreads on social media, parents were urged to limit their children's exposure to it online as it could cause distress.

Trauma psychologist Natalia Rachel warned Sydneysiders to look out for symptoms of trauma and to seek help if they arise.

"Some people might have a more of a sematic or physical presentation so that might be a strange sensation in the body, whooshing sensations, a racing heartbeat or even the emergence of strange aches or pains," she told 9News.

"Whereas some people might experience insomnia, night sweats, flashbacks or nightmares."

Those experiencing anxiety in the wake of the incident are urged to increase their physical sense of safety as a way to cope.

"That might be to speak to ourselves, speak to our body and remind ourselves the threat's over and that the danger's past and we can also use tools like giving support to our body with our hands, a blanket, a heat pack," Rachel said.

READ MORE: Police Inspector labelled a hero after shooting dead Bondi attacker

What we know so far

• Six people have been killed in a mass stabbing attack at Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
• The man, 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott at the scene. Police do not believe he acted "with ideation".
• Twelve people were taken to hospital, though police said others may have presented independently with minor injuries.
• Five women and one man were killed in the attack, which also left a dozen injured.
• They include Faraz Tahir, 30, a refugee who started working as a security guard that day; Ashlee Good, 38, a mum whose baby was also stabbed; Dawn Singleton, 25, a shop worker and daughter of businessman John Singleton, architect and mother-of-two Jade Young, 47, and Pikria Darchia, 55.
• Three people – a woman, man and a nine-month-old baby girl – remain in a critical condition.
• Eight others are stable and one woman has been discharged from hospital.
• Details are emerging of heroic acts by shoppers who tried to help as the rampage unfolded.
• Mobile phone footage shows crowds hiding in stairwells, with other shoppers saying they were evacuated to the roof and others cowered in shops.
• The shopping centre will remain closed on Monday as police work through the crime scene.

If you're struggling, know that help is available 24/7.

NSW Health 24-Hour Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511.

Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online.

Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800 or chat online.

Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.

1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or chat online.

13 Yarn: Call 13 92 76.

MensLine Australia: Call 1300 78 99 78.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

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