Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the granting of citizenship to the Frenchman who fought off attacker Joel Cauchy in Sydney’s Bondi Junction shopping mall for his ‘extraordinary bravery’.
French construction worker Damien Garrot has been dubbed ‘Bollard Man’ by some after CCTV footage showed him confronting a knife-wielding attacker with a bollard on an escalator at Westfield Bondi Junction.
In this attack, six people lost their lives and 12 were injured, while the attacker was also shot dead by a police officer.
Prime Minister Albanese told reporters in the capital, Canberra, “I want to say to Damian Garrott, the visa applicant, that you are welcome here and that you can stay here as long as you want.” We would welcome them to become Australian citizens, although it would certainly be France’s loss.’
According to ABC News, Garrott’s lawyer, Belinda Robinson, said he will be granted permanent residency and is just waiting for official documents, which he hopes to receive soon.
A video of Garrott’s bravery has gone viral on social media, with many demanding permanent residency for him after news broke that his visa would expire in a month.
According to ABC News, his lawyer Robinson started an online petition calling for Garrott to be granted Australian citizenship.
He said that he showed selfless bravery by recklessly risking his life by confronting a dangerous killer.
Anthony Albanese said: ‘This incident says a lot about humanity at a time when we are facing difficult issues and a man who is not even a citizen of this country, bravely stood on the escalators and Stopped the criminal from proceeding which would have led to the massacre of more civilians on another floor. I think on Saturday we also witnessed the human character when we saw such a devastating tragedy. And I thank Damien for his extraordinary efforts.’
Australia was still mourning the attack when another knife attack rocked the country just three days later on Monday.
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Four people were injured in an attack at a church in western Sydney. Police say it was an act of ‘terrorism’.
Prime Minister Albanese said there was no place for violent extremism in Australia.
He said during a press conference that ‘We are a peace-loving nation. This is the time to unite as a community and as a country, not to divide.’
After Saturday’s attack, Garrott said he, along with his friend Silas Desprieaux, jumped in to confront the assailant regardless of the consequences.
“When we saw it coming, we were thinking we should try to stop it,” Garrott said in an interview with Australian TV network Channel Seven on Sunday.
As Garrote blocked Cauchy with a plastic bollard, he turned and ran down the escalator, but he didn’t stop there and ran after him with a chair.
“We probably tried to throw a bollard at him but we couldn’t catch him,” Garrott said.
By this time, a police officer was also behind Cauchi who attacked Inspector Amy Scott with a knife, but he was shot dead.
Police have said they are investigating the motives of Cauchy, 40, but have noted that he had mental health issues.
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2024-08-30 21:24:26