Police say Sydney mall attacker 'focused on women' and 'avoided the men' during his horror rampage

More information is coming to light following Saturday's devastating events in Sydney, Australia.

Around 3.30pm local time, a man entered Westfield shopping mall at Bondi Junction wielding a knife and proceeded to stab 18 people.

Shoppers were filmed fleeing the scene in horror as the attack took place, with six people tragically losing their live and 12 others hospitalised.

People paid tribute to those lost in the attack (DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

Several others were also critically injured in the ordeal, including a young child.

Joel Cauchi has since been named as the attacker, who was shot dead by a police officer following his killing spree.

The 40-year-old man was known to police in neighboring Queensland, but he had not been arrested or charge with anything there prior to Saturday's heartbreaking events.

As police continue to investigate the matter, it had been suggested that Cauchi was targeting women.

"It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to detectives that seems to be an area of interest that the offender focused on women and avoided the men," New South Wales police Commissioner Karen Webb told ABC News Breakfast.

Joel Cauchi has been named as the attacker (7News)

"We don’t know what was operating in the mind of the offender and that’s why it’s important now that detectives spend so much time interviewing those who know him, were around him, close to him.

"So we can get some insight into what he might have been thinking."

Five of the six people who lost their lives on Saturday were women.

One of the women to have been killed was 38-year-old Ashlee Good, who is believed to have been protecting her baby when she was stabbed by Cauchi.

Her family have spoken out in the wake of her untimely death.

"[We are] reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human and so much more," they said in a statement released yesterday (April 14).

"We appreciate the well-wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl."

Ashlee Good was one of the victims of the Sydney Westfield attack. (Instagram)

Ashlee's nine-month-old daughter is being treated at Sydney Children’s Hospital, who her family have praised for their 'expert care and attention'.

"We would also like to thank the New South Wales Police for their kindness and diligence in this tragedy and emergency services for getting our baby the care she needed as quickly as possible," the family added. "To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not - words cannot express our gratitude."

Ashlee's daughter is said to be in critical condition in the ICU after undergoing surgery.

The other victims who lost their lives in the horrific attack have been named as Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, believed to be in her 20s, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.