Australia PM calls attack on politician 'deliberate act'
The car that struck an independent Australian politician outside her office had performed a U-turn before hitting her, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said, describing the incident as clearly intentional.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared the attack on independent politician Helen Haines as a deliberate act, describing it as "clearly intentional" during a press conference. The incident occurred when Haines was struck by a white Toyota Land Cruiser in Wangaratta, a town about three hours northeast of Melbourne. Albanese stated that the car had made a U-turn before the collision, indicating the driver's intent.
Haines underwent surgery and remains in critical condition. A 43-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack, and counter-terrorism authorities are involved in the investigation. Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police are considering potential charges, including causing harm to a public official, which can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment.
Counter-terrorism Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that the incident appears to be isolated for now. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed that witnesses reported the attacker had reversed the vehicle and struck Haines a second time before a bystander, Ricky Jefferies, intervened. Jefferies, who was a barber at the time, ran out of his shop and restrained the attacker, removing a knife from him.
Such violent attacks on politicians are rare in Australia, where they are often seen in public spaces without significant security. Haines is an independent politician who previously worked in nursing and midwifery and as an academic before being elected to parliament in 2019. Albanese urged Australians to engage more respectfully with one another, expressing concern about growing divisions in the country.
He also noted the increasing number of threats against politicians worldwide, with 71% of respondents to a recent survey by the Inter-Parliamentary Union reporting experiencing violence, particularly online. In Australia, such incidents had risen to 1,067 in the past year, from 951 the previous year. Albanese emphasized the importance of maintaining the nation's sense of unity and identity in the face of this challenge.
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