Haines loses leg; alleged attacker posted about environment and Gaza
The independent MP remains in a critical condition after the incident on Monday afternoon. The alleged attacker has been identified as 43-year-old Brendan Nugent.
Helen Haines, the independent federal MP, sustained a severe leg injury and has lost a leg after being struck by an alleged attacker's white Toyota Landcruiser on Monday outside her Wangaratta office. The 43-year-old attacker, identified as Brendan Nugent from Tarrawingee, a town near Haines' federal seat of Indi in northeastern Victoria, is currently in custody.
According to sources, Nugent was impaired by drugs or alcohol, which prevented him from being interviewed on Monday night. A bystander, Cody Lepoidevin, noticed Nugent's erratic behavior after he was pulled from his vehicle, expressing concerns about his phone and wallet. Nugent, who describes himself as a "Plant Person" on social media and has been critical of Israel, is under investigation by federal and Victorian police, the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, and ASIO. The motive for the attack is being probed to determine if it was politically motivated.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Heroic barber recalls tackling car attacker of Australian MP Helen Haines scmp.com
- The attack on Helen Haines will be no defining moment, only another step towards fragmentation crikey.com.au
- Turn down the temperature: Spy chief’s urgent warning as Helen Haines remains in critical condition theage.com.au
- Turn down the temperature: Spy chief’s urgent warning as Helen Haines remains in critical condition smh.com.au
