This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, a shocking incident unfolded in the heart of Sydney's central business district, where a 21-year-old man with a history of mental illness allegedly went on a deadly knife rampage.
According to eyewitnesses, the man, who had a thumb drive containing details of mass-casualty white-supremacist attacks in the United States and New Zealand, was seen brandishing a large kitchen knife and chasing several people through the busy streets.
Witness Megan Hales described the scene: "Five or six others were chasing him behind, trying to stop him, they caught him and restrained him" in front of two popular cafes.
Among the brave bystanders who chased down the attacker were Colombian-born Alex Roberts, Britons Lee Cuthbert, and brothers Paul and Luke O'Shaughnessy, all colleagues at a recruitment consultancy.
"We've opened the window and seen the guy wielding a knife and jumping on the bonnet" of a nearby car, Paul O'Shaughnessy, a former professional footballer, told AFP.
Convinced it was a terrorist attack, his brother Luke, a champion Muay Thai boxer, led the chase, with the help of Alex Roberts and Lee Cuthbert.
"We all just ran down the building and chased him down the street," Roberts said. "Everyone was kind of panicking, no one really knew what was happening," he added.
Lee Cuthbert praised the actions of the bystanders, saying: "Luke, with the help of another man, managed to get him down on to the floor and pin him down" with chairs and a plastic crate before police arrived.
Police said despite indications the assailant shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "shoot me" it was not yet clear whether there was a political motive.
"It would appear at this stage it is unprovoked but we are keeping a very open mind as we move forward," police spokesman superintendent Gavin Wood said, hailing the action of the bystanders.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also praised the bravery of the onlookers, saying: "The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and were able to able to restrain him."
