A forensic psychologist who has spoken with 10 of the most infamous mass murderers in history recently shared a bone-chilling encounter with a killer just hours after a heinous crime. The murderer in question was Martin Bryant, responsible for Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in 1996, where 35 individuals, including children, lost their lives.
Professor Paul E. Mullen conducted an interview with Bryant 48 hours post the tragic incident, while Bryant was recovering in a hospital bed following a failed suicide attempt that left him badly burned. During this interview, the killer made a disturbing statement that has stuck with Professor Mullen to this day.
Bryant, a 28-year-old loner who struggled with relationships, committed the massacre at Port Arthur, Tasmania. He noted to Professor Mullen with a sinister smile that he now held a record, without explicitly stating the nature of the record. This record referred to Bryant surpassing the highest casualty count by a lone gunman at that time.
Despite Bryant’s record being later exceeded by other tragedies, such as the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where 60 people were killed, the impact of his chilling comment lingered. Professor Mullen, with experience in both New Zealand and Australia, highlighted common traits among lone mass killers and emphasized the importance of understanding warning signs and improving threat assessments.
He revealed that many lone mass killers often communicate their intentions through various channels, such as the internet and social interactions, and stressed the significance of intervention based on early detection of such signals. Additionally, efforts are being made to establish collaborative policies and mental health units to respond promptly to potential threats, assessing factors like access to weapons, criminal history, mental health status, and online activities.
Professor Mullen praised the UK’s organized response services in handling such situations compared to other countries, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures in preventing similar tragedies. His insights and findings have been compiled in his book, “Running Amok,” which explores the minds of mass killers and provides guidance on identifying warning signs effectively.
