Westfield Bondi Junction will reopen for a community reflection day on Thursday before it resumes normal trading hours from Friday, with increased security and police to protect against any further attacks.“Having a reflection day allows members of the community that come back in a way which is not about retail trade, but it’s about paying respects and feeling comfortable with coming back to us,” said Elliot Rusanow, chief executive of Westfield owner Scentre Group.
Among the six people who died from the attack were Westfield security guard Faraz Tahir. The remaining five were all women: Ash Good, Jade Young, Dawn Singleton, Cheng Yixuan and Pikria Darchia.“Our team member came to this country as a refugee from Pakistan seeking a safer life and it’s with great tragedy and sadness that in our country … he hasn’t been able to experience that,” Mr Rusanow said.The shopping centre will reopen at 11am on Thursday for a community reflection day.
Trade will resume on Friday. Not all retailers would reopen when the shopping centre resumes trading, as some would remain closed to continue paying respects to the victims, Mr Rusanow said. “There will be increased police presence, which will augment the security and the safety settings that are at Westfield Bondi,” Mr Rusanow said.