Why Bondi Junction Westfield remains closed despite NSW Police declaring it no longer a crime scene

Police have finished forensically analysing the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre.

The five-storey retail complex was the subject of extensive analysis after Saturday’s attack by knifeman Joel Cauchi, who killed six people, injured at least 12 and ended with Cauchi being shot by a police officer.

The attack began about 3.20pm on Saturday which was the first day of school holidays.

About 1500 vehicles remained in the car parks as shoppers were attacked, others fled, and emergency services flooded the precinct.

The shopping centre remained an active crime scene on Saturday and Sunday as detectives and forensics got to work. Those cars remained locked away until some were able to be collected from 4pm Sunday.

On Monday morning a NSW Police spokeswoman said the crime scene analysis had been finalised and was in the process of being handed back to the proprietor.

But it will take some time to clean up the centre before it can reopen to the public.

Centre manager Scentre Group has been approached for comment.

Information from the Waverley Council says vehicle owners without their cars are to meet at the Corner of Grosvenor and Grafton streets on Westfield Bondi Junction side, from there shopping centre staff and police will direct them.

On Monday morning NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said hundreds of exhibits had been seized and would be analysed in the coming days and weeks.

Fifty witnesses have come forward since Saturday.

Ms Webb said victims will be prioritised when post mortems take place this week.

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“We anticipate that the post mortems on the victims and offender will be done this week. In fact, I think the victims will be done first and we think that’s appropriate so they can be given to their families,” Ms Webb told Sky News.

Cauchi will be subject to toxicology testing but results could take weeks.

“We anticipate the offender will be subject for post mortem later this week. He will be subject to toxicology,” she told Sky News.

“Those toxicology tests do take time, and it might be some days or weeks before we have any idea what was in his system.”

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