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The heartbroken parents of Joel Cauchi, the 40-year-old who killed six and injured a dozen in a stabbing spree in eastern Sydney, have spoken about their son from their family home in Toowoomba.
Cauchi, armed with a knife, was shot dead by a police officer after he carried out the mass attack at a Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.
His parents Andrew and Michele Cauchi, who have expressed their sorrow for the victims and their devastation at their son's actions, said Joel had been off medication for his mental illness.
READ MORE: $18 million inquest into Bondi stabbings announced
Talking to reporters from outside their home in Toowoomba, Michele said the attack was out of character.
"He was brought up in love, he was a loved child," she said.
"This is a parent's absolute nightmare when they have a child with mental illness, that something like this will happen.
"My heart goes out to the people our son has hurt.
"If he was in his right mind he would be absolutely devastated."
READ MORE: Police close crime scene at Bondi shopping centre
Andrew said he has been watching through vision from inside the shopping centre trying to understand what happened.
"This is so horrendous that I can't even explain it," he said.
"I don't know why he would do this, I've done everything I can to help him.
"He's my son and I'm loving a monster. For you, he's a monster. To me, he was a very sick boy."
READ MORE: Hero shopper helped police officer track and confront rampaging stabber
Police have confirmed Cauchi was known to authorities due to his history with mental health-related issues.
He had recently moved to Sydney from Brisbane and NSW Police is working with Queensland Police in its investigations into the stabbing.
While the motive for the attack is still unknown, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb yesterday confirmed whether Cauchi targeted women was an "obvious line of inquiry".
The six people killed in the attack – five women and one man – have since been identified.
A dozen, including a nine-month-old baby girl, were seriously or critically injured and rushed to different hospitals around the city.
READ MORE: Condition of nine-month-old stabbing victim improves
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