Overview

• Joel Cauchi, 40, from Queensland was identified as the perpetrator of the Sydney mall attack, following a fatal stabbing spree.
• Misinformation spread rapidly on social media, wrongly accusing Ben Cohen, a Jewish student, of the attack.
• Authorities clarified that the attack was not driven by any ideological or religious motivation, but was linked to Cauchi's mental health issues.
• Several news outlets and social media platforms issued corrections and apologies after initially misidentifying the attacker.
• Legal actions are being considered by those wrongly accused in the wake of the misinformation.