Westfield massacre live updates: Everything we know about the crazed killer who stabbed five women and a man to death in a busy shopping center – as police prepare to hold a press conference at

The man who fatally stabbed six shoppers before being shot dead by a hero cop in a busy mall was known to police.

Eight others were taken to hospital with stab wounds, including a nine-month-old baby.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb revealed on Saturday night that the bearded, dark-haired man, 40, was known to law enforcement.

“We are waiting to formally identify him and we cannot yet speculate on his identification,” she said.

“But let me assure you that we are confident there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with someone who is now deceased.”

Police have not yet established a motive, but it has been ruled out as a terrorist incident.

“We know little about this individual but we are waiting to confirm his identification,” Commissioner Webb said.

“And if it really is the person we think it is, then we don’t fear the person who has an idea.

‘In other words, that it is not a terrorist incident.’

Six shoppers were stabbed to death, including 38-year-old mother Dr. Ash Good, whose nine-month-old baby daughter was also injured.

Eight others remain in hospital under various conditions.

The mall is closed and will remain closed Sunday.

Witnesses say the crazed attacker slashed shoppers with his 30cm hunting knife as he went on a rampage throughout the centre.

He died in a hail of gunfire after he was shot by the lone female police inspector who ran through the mall to confront him and stop his murderous rampage.

‘All she said was “put it down”. Just once,’ said witness Jason Dixon.

Then she shot him in the chest and he went down.

“So when he fell to the ground, she gave him CPR.”

Hussein Osseili described how he was in the mall with his six-year-old sister and grandmother when he heard gunshots and immediately knew what it was.

‘I just thought I had to get my family to safety. I told them to go,’ he told TheWSTNews Australia.

‘Then I saw a man with a large hunting knife – about 30cm long on the escalator in front of Woolies.

‘He was walking past Zara and Kmart, he was waving the knife around and stabbing people. He went to level five and then I heard more gunshots from the police. Fortunately, my family is safe.’

“There was a lady… and there was just blood everywhere,” Reid told Nine News.

‘I realized I had to go and help because that’s what we’re trained to do as lifeguards.’

He and two other members of the public gave the woman first aid along with police officers.

“I’ve never seen so much blood… We were just looking for wounds and trying to stop the bleeding,” Reid said.

‘When I looked up, there were just more victims, about 50m apart. The lady next to us was really bad – there were others working on her.’