Torquay Victoria: Chilling echo of Bondi Junction tragedy as dad holding his ... trends now
A man who was allegedly threatened with a knife by ex-soldier Travis Johnston while holding his 19-month-old son said he immediately thought of the tragic stabbing murders in Bondi Junction.
Marty Cooper was holding his son Forrest at the counter of the Torquay Pharmacy in Victoria on Saturday when Johnston, 44, allegedly kicked him from behind.
'When I saw him walk from me and attack another guy with a knife my mind swung to Bondi,' Mr Cooper, 38, told the Geelong Advertiser.
'It was like 'Holy s***, this is another Bondi', this guy is in a shop with a massive knife and he could walk around and stab everyone in here. It was panic stations.'
Mr Cooper's fears were amplified because his partner Juliet Adelstein is from Sydney and her family lives in Bondi Beach, which is just down the road from Bondi Junction.
Marty Cooper is pictured on the left, holding his son Forrest, while allegedly being threatened by ex-soldier Travis Johnston
There were about 15 people, including children, in the store at the time, with terrified customers running to the back of the premises to get away from the alleged knifeman.
Johnston, a 44-year-old military veteran, was arrested shortly after the incident, which was caught on CCTV, and has been remanded in custody even since.
Mr Cooper said Johnston motioned to stab his son and he
