Investigation Hears That Officer Overseeing Paramedics Discovered Bondi Junction Stabbing Incident By Chance

A NSW Ambulance paramedic, who was the duty officer for the special operations team during the Bondi Junction stabbing incident, revealed to a court that they were unaware of the seriousness of the situation when it happened due to a communication oversight. The duty officer, referred to as “SOT1,” also stated that paramedics did not have easy access to ballistic personal protective equipment (PPE). There were 57 special operations team (SOT) paramedics in Sydney, who use ballistic body armor and helmets when handling high-risk situations alongside police. Schizophrenic man , 40, was responsible for the stabbing spree on April 13, 2024, which resulted in six deaths and 10 injuries, before being shot and killed by police inspector Amy Scott at 3:38pm. SOT1 learned of the incident through a conversation about a separate issue, not directly from the control center, stating they should have been informed sooner given their position. The delay in receiving information affected the timely access to specialist ballistic PPE. SOT1 emphasized the need for the equipment to be more accessible. The incident highlighted challenges in communication and equipment access that could impact the response to similar future situations.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/01/bondi-junction-stabbings-inquest-officer-paramedics-ntwnfb