SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 17, 1991 The Strathfield massacre is one of the worst mass shootings in Australian history. It took place at Strathfield Plaza shopping center in Sydney. Over the course of approximately ten minutes, seven innocent people were killed and six others were injured. The perpetrator, Wade Frankum (33), ultimately died by suicide as police began arriving at the scene.
-
- Wade Frankum
-
- His dead body
Frankum arrived at the shopping center at around 1:00 p.m. and spent several hours sitting in the Coffee Pot cafe, where he drank four cups of coffee. Shortly after 3:30 p.m., he suddenly pulled out a large Bowie knife and, for no apparent reason, fatally stabbed a 15-year-old girl sitting at a nearby table. He then took a Norinco SKS semi-automatic rifle out of his bag and began firing at customers and employees inside the cafe. He continued the attack throughout the shopping center, shooting at random passersby.
After the attack, he made his way to the rooftop parking lot, where he forced a woman at gunpoint to drive him to the nearby suburb of Enfield. When he heard approaching police sirens, he apologized to the woman, got out of the car, knelt down, and shot himself. The entire attack lasted approximately ten minutes.
The investigation did not establish a clear motive. According to police, the perpetrator did not specifically target his victims and did not personally know any of them. Violent books and videotapes containing violent material were found in Frankum’s apartment. The coroner and psychiatrists described him as a lonely man with mental health problems and personal and financial difficulties, but they were unable to identify a single cause that could explain his actions.
READ MORE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strathfield_massacre
If you’re thinking about suicide, please stop and recognize that your pain is not permanent, but this step would be. It may feel like there’s no other way, but there is hope, even if it’s hard to see right now. Your feelings are temporary, and with help, they can pass.
Talking about what you're going through might feel difficult, but it’s the first step toward healing. Don’t turn away from the people who want to support you. Life can offer more than what you're feeling right now, and the pain doesn't have to last forever. You deserve help, and it’s available.
If you need immediate help, please contact a helpline.
