An Australian lawmaker struck by a car in an apparently deliberate attack on Monday has lost one of her legs, local media reported, citing sources.
Independent MP Helen Haines underwent surgery overnight after suffering what were described as critical injuries in the incident, with national broadcaster ABC and the daily Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that one leg had been amputated.
Counterterrorism investigators have joined a police probe into the incident, which occurred outside Haines’ constituency office in Wangaratta, northeast of the Victorian capital, Melbourne.
What do we know about the suspected attack on Haines?
Haines, 65, was hit by an SUV, which police said was a white Toyota, outside her office. She suffered serious injuries, particularly to her lower body.
ABC cited witnesses as saying they heard a bang and then saw a woman pinned between two cars.
The driver, described as a 43-year-old man, has been arrested, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Albanese said early investigations suggested the driver made a U-turn before hitting Haines as she was loading or unloading items at the trunk of her car.
“This wasn’t an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear,” he told ABC.
Local barber ran to assist
Local barber Ricky Jeffries, whose shop is next to Haines’ office, has been widely hailed as a hero after he ran to pull the driver out of the car and restrained him until police arrived.
Jeffries downplayed his role, despite having intervened in what could have been a highly dangerous situation, as the man had a knife in the car.
“He [the driver] did have a knife. He didn’t pull it out. I just wasn’t comfortable with his movements, and so I basically just took it out of his pocket and threw it away,” he said.
Jefferies said he then held the man down until police arrived.
“I just leant over him and once he was on the ground and he was no longer a threat, I just stood with him and I told him that he can’t leave,” he said.
Jefferies told journalists his first thought had been: “My wife would be disappointed if I’m injured.”
“The other people here were just, they did so much more than me … they deserve the credit,” he added.
Political violence on the rise: PM Albanese
Albanese said it was too early to speculate about the possible motive behind the suspected attack, but pointed to rising political violence.
“The temperature has increased in recent times,” Albanese added, “I’ve expressed that concern to people in the media.”
Ben Carroll, the state premier for Victoria where Wangaratta is located, said he was “appalled” by the attack, adding: “I know how devastating this will be for the Wangaratta community and all those who Helen represents.”
At a separate press conference, Albanese said everyone was “praying for her full recovery.”
Although it has not yet been established whether the incident was deliberate, there has been an increase in threats and harassment targeting lawmakers and other senior public officials in Australia and elsewhere in recent years.
Haines had worked as a nurse and a midwife before entering parliament in 2019. She is known for her stance on stronger climate action. (DW)