Morning Mail: how false claims spread after Bondi Junction attack; Israel to ‘exact the price’ from Iran; Lehrmann defamation judgment due
Good morning. Saturday’s knife attack at Bondi Junction, where Queensland man Joel Cauchi killed six people, shows how events with global interest have become opportunities for social media accounts to make inflammatory claims, or to fit the incident into a predetermined narrative. On the weekend, tens of thousands of accounts falsely identified the killer, and some falsely linked the attack to Islamist terrorism.
In other developments around the attack, Cauchi’s family released a statement saying they were “still trying to comprehend what has happened”.
Meanwhile, a verdict is expected in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case today, and Israel says it will “exact the price” from Iran for its mass missile and drone attack.
Australia
Disinformation | Prominent British political commentators and an Australian news outlet were among those sharing false claims about the Bondi Junction attack shortly after it happened, fuelling Islamophobic and anti-semitic hate online, analysts said.
The victims | A new mum, an architect, a young woman shopping for her wedding and a refugee security guard on his first shift: these were the attacker’s victims.
The attacker | Joel Cauchi’s family said his actions were truly horrific and offered sympathy to the officer who fatally shot him. Police are investigating claims Cauchi had an interest in knives; last year he called police when his family took his weapons away. Who was Joel Cauchi?
Defamation case | A judge is set to hand down his verdict today in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, more than three years after Brittany Higgins alleged on The Project that she was raped. Guardian Australia explores all the connected legal cases.
Technology | With the demise of daily letters, 3G and cash, Paul Karp asks whether public policy is evolving faster than some people’s ability to keep up.
World
Iran strikes | Tehran warned it will strike again with greater force if Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike on Israel that used more than 300 drones and missiles at the weekend. Donald Trump posted an all-caps response to the episode, threatening “consequences” for Iran. Read our analysis: how the massive attack was stopped.
Russia-Ukraine war | A dramatic rise in European energy prices is inevitable if the Russian destruction of Ukrainian energy infrastructure continues unabated, the former chief executive of Ukraine’s state-owned oil company warned.
Climate crisis | Political leaders who present themselves as “grownups” while slowing the pace of climate action are pushing the world towards deeper catastrophe, a former US climate chief says.
US politics | Twelve US news organisations have urged Joe Biden and Donald Trump to agree to TV debates ahead of the November presidential vote, a typical feature of an election year and one that can sometimes play a crucial role. Meanwhile, polls show Biden has closed his lead on Trump – but third party candidates pose a danger.
Space oddity | The word’s top cosmologists have convened to question the conventional view that the universe is a vast, even expanse with no notable features.
Full Story
How the Bondi Junction stabbing attack unfolded
Seven people died in the stabbing attack at Bondi Junction Westfield, including the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi. Police said he suffered from mental health problems. NSW state correspondent Tamsin Rose tells Nour Haydar what happened on Saturday afternoon, and production editor Nikki Marshall describes being inside the shopping centre at the time of the attack.
In-depth
The comedian Joe Lycett and pop star Robbie Williams sat down for a free-wheeling and funny conversation about Williams’s prolific drawing and why he’s posting his art on social media.
“I find myself creating something every day, and escaping into creation in my mind, and the more time I spent doing that, the less time I spend self-sabotaging,” Williams says.
Not the news
Guardian Australia’s crack team of TV critics, aged two to seven, review Bluey’s longest-ever episode, The Sign (28 minutes), in which the Heeler house is put up for sale and a wedding is on the cards.
“My favourite part was when they got married,” says Finia, seven. “It was a cute bit of the story. Aunt Frisky was so beautiful.”
Maeve, seven, says: “My favourite part was when they didn’t sell the house any more, because it’s happy.” (Spoilers, sorry.)
The world of sport
Racy racing | US Olympians slammed Nike for a newly unveiled and skimpy women’s track kit, with one athlete providing the stark assessment that “my hoo ha is gonna be out”.
Masters golf | Our live blog gives a play-by-play of each hole on the fourth day at Augusta.
Premier League | Aston Villa beat Arsenal 2-0; Fulham beat West Ham 2-0; Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 1-0.
NRL | The Souths’ 34-22 loss to Cronulla anchors them at the bottom of the ladder but coach Jason Demetriou believes a spirited display despite key injuries will save his job.
Media roundup
The horror at Bondi Junction dominates news headlines today. The Daily Telegraph has a police source saying that investigators believe the perpetrator was “definitely targeting women.” The Courier Mail covers the attacker’s domestic violence complaint against his parents over their removal of his knives. The Sydney Morning Herald focuses on the Frenchmen who took on the threat.
What’s happening today
Supermarket prices | The Senate select committee on supermarket prices will hold a public session today, at which they will hear from the economist Allan Fels, unions and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
School’s back | Term two begins in Victoria, Queensland, the NT and WA.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
