By Sophia McCaughan in Sydney

The Sydney shopping centre where six people were fatally stabbed will re-open for a day of community reflection before retail trade resumes.

Westfield Bondi Junction, in the eastern suburbs, will open on Thursday to allow people to pay their respects to those affected by Saturday’s attack.

Shops will open for business on Friday with an increased police and security presence.

Scentre Group, which owns and operates the shopping centre, made the announcement on Wednesday after earlier allowing customers to retrieve cars and belongings abandoned after the murders.

“Tomorrow’s reflection day will be quiet sittings, the centre will be quiet, it will allow for reflection to occur,” chief executive Elliott Rusanow said.

Mr Rusanow added the number of security guards across all Westfield centres would be increased in response to the attack.

The shopping centre will resume normal trading hours on Friday, although Mr Rusanow said some businesses would remain shut.

“It will be their (retailers’) choice when they want to re-open,” he said.

“It’s been a very difficult time.”

The re-opening will mark nearly a week since six people were killed when 40-year-old Joel Cauchi went on a stabbing spree.

The Queensland man, who had a long history of mental illness, was shot dead by police inside the shopping complex.

The tragedy has touched people across the world, with French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledging on X, formerly known as Twitter, the courage of his two compatriots who confronted the attacker mid rampage with just a bollard and a chair.

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese singled out Mr Guerot, dubbed “Bollard man”, saying he would be granted permanent residency for his “extraordinary bravery”.

Six people remain in hospitals across Sydney with injuries sustained during the mass stabbing, including two women in intensive care.

A nine-month-old baby, whose mother Ashlee Good was among those killed in the attack, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The shopping centre reopening will be followed by a candlelight vigil at nearby Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, with a minute’s silence to honour the victims.

Premier Chris Minns said the devastating attack had touched people across NSW, regardless of whether or not they knew the victims.

“This vigil will be an opportunity for the community to stand together to support and honour the victims and survivors of this horrific tragedy,” he said.

“I hope they can draw some strength from the fact that there’s many people that are standing with them during this time.”

Mayors from western Sydney laid wreaths at Bondi Junction on Wednesday afternoon.

Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun said communities across the city had been left devastated by the tragedy.

“It’s important that we all stand together in these very challenging and difficult times,” he said.