Key Points
- The 33-year-old man allegedly stabbed a police officer “two or three times” before he was chased and Tasered.
- Both the officer and the alleged perpetrator were taken to separate hospitals.
- The officer was treated at the scene of the incident for non-life-threatening injuries.
A 33-year-old man allegedly stabbed a police officer “two to three” times in the back of the head, then demanded police shoot him as he ran through Sydney’s CBD, NSW Police said.
A male and female officer were conducting traffic duties when the man approached them without saying a word and allegedly stabbed the male officer with a kitchen knife around 30cm long.
Police alleged a number of officers chased the man before Tasering and arresting him.
Both the alleged attacker and officer have been taken to separate hospitals for assessment.
Paramedics on the scene treated the officer for non-life-threatening head injuries.
Police superintendent Martin Fileman said the alleged perpetrator was known to police but did not have a “substantial” criminal record or history of mental illness, according to their database.
He said it was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the public.
Fileman said the alleged perpetrator will be released from hospital shortly and face “very serious” charges.
Asked how the officer was able to chase the alleged perpetrator after being stabbed, Fileman said: “It just shows you the training we go through.”
The incident follows a series of high-profile incidents including an attack at Sydney’s Bondi Junction shopping centre where , and another attack on a bishop who was at a Western Sydney church.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has said he would not rule out increasing
Last week the NSW government introduced laws giving police powers to scan people for knives without a warrant in designated areas.
Under legislation introduced to parliament in June 2023, the Crimes Act was amended to include the offences of having a knife in a public place or school and wielding a knife in a public place or school.
Source Agencies
