When many people think of Australia, their minds often drift to Sydney. This iconic city is not just a hub for vibrant culture and breathtaking vistas; it’s a place that captures the heart of both international visitors and Australian residents alike.

Sydney, with its stunning landscapes and dynamic urban life, has long held a special allure. In 2023, it earned the distinction of being ranked the fourth safest city in Australia according to The Economist, underscoring its appeal as a serene and secure destination.

However, the tranquility of this beloved city was shattered by a distressing incident. Last Saturday, the peace of Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Center, located in the Bondi Junction area of eastern Sydney, was violently disrupted. A man, wielding a knife, launched an attack, plunging the shopping center into chaos. In a flurry of fear and urgency, hundreds were evacuated from the premises.

In the days that followed, more details emerged. The attacker was identified as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi. Authorities discovered that his actions, which cast a shadow over Sydney’s other safe image, were driven by “emotional frustration.” This shocking event served as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most idyllic settings.

Cauchi’s father told reporters that his son had a long history of mental illness: “I’m loving a monster. To you he’s a monster but to me he was a very sick boy.”

In the aftermath, police revealed a devastating outcome: five victims perished at the scene, and another later died in hospital. The victims spanned generations, from a nine-month-old baby to young adults and students, including Cheng Yixuan, a Chinese student from the University of Sydney, whose life was cut tragically short.

As an international student, the tragedy struck a deeper chord, echoing the longstanding advice my mother often gives me: “Be safe.”

Her words resurface whenever I recently went into Boston with friends, urging caution.

Like here, Bondi Junction is known for its bustling shopping and entertainment scene; it’s s a favored weekend destination near Sydney, attracting many, including my friends. Two of them, who study at the University of Sydney, were at the shopping center when the attack occurred. Fortunately, they left just before the tragic incident unfolded.

But one of them told me that even now, she feels a great deal of trepidation, that she could have been one of the victims, who remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Thousands of flowers and wreaths were placed at a makeshift memorial outside the shopping center last Monday, joining the hundreds of people who came from all over the city, and these two friends of mine came together to pay their respects to the victims.

Shockingly, just two days after the attack, a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of a knife attack at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, also in Sydney. The short time between the two cases is staggering.

As I prepare to leave for college, I take my mother’s words to heart. I am telling everyone to stay safe and remain alert. It feels like we are living in an increasingly dangerous world, and though young, we are not immortal.