Australiaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Victoria Police Arrest 43-Year-Old After White Toyota Land Cruiser SUV Strikes MP Helen Haines
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Helen Haines critically injured after being struck outside her Wangaratta office. A 43-year-old man arrested; counter-terrorism unit investigating.
12 outlets told this the same way.
Car ramming in Wangaratta
Independent MP Helen Haines suffered critical injuries after a white Toyota Land Cruiser SUV struck her outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an attack.
Victoria Police said a 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene after a passerby apprehended the driver, and police found a knife in the car.
Albanese told ABC that "This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act," and he said authorities did not yet know the motivation for the attack.
Victoria Police acting superintendent Ashley Mason said there was no further threat to the public, and the incident prompted a counterterrorism taskforce to investigate the arrested suspect.
Politicians condemn violence
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Haines as "incredibly hardworking" and said she was "a thoroughly decent human being," as he spoke after the attack. Opposition leader Angus Taylor said Australians would be "angry and appalled by the attack on Helen," and he said political violence must never be accepted as part of public life.
Senator David Shoebridge said he was "horrified" by the "apparent attack" and called Haines "an extraordinary human being and brings people together like few others." Pauline Hanson said violence against elected representatives is "never acceptable in Australia," and she added that members of parliament and their staff must be able to serve without fearing for their safety.
Threats and investigation
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said reports of harassing and threatening behaviour towards politicians rose from 951 to 1,067 in the past year, and he linked the increase to the changing political environment. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett told the ABC she expected "high office holders and politicians will continue to be targeted" and said people driven by "grievance" were looking for something to attach to.
Victoria Police said the attack was being investigated as to whether it was intentional, and Albanese said a terrorism taskforce would be investigating the suspect arrested. The Guardian reported that Albanese said he had repeatedly warned "the temperature has increased in recent times" in relation to politics, as authorities said they were not aware of any recent direct threats to Haines.