Schizophrenic Sydney knife attacker Joel Cauchi (40) was a teacher who turned to male escort work

Six people murdered in stabbing spree at the weekend

Police officer Amy Scott shot the attacker as he lunged at her with a knife. Photo: NSW Police

Andrea Hamblin
© Telegraph.co.uk

The man who murdered six people in a busy Australian shopping centre was a teacher-turned-male escort who was known to authorities because of previous concerning behaviour including an unusual interest in knives.

‌The attacker has been identified as Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old who was sleeping rough after moving from Queensland to Sydney where he was shot dead on Saturday.