Horrific scenes at a supermarket in New Zealand as a long-haired attacker dressed in a ‘Sons of Anarchy’ shirt goes on a stabbing rampage – with at least three fighting for life in hospital
- Five people rushed to hospital after a stabbing attack in a Dunedin supermarket
- Three of the injured are in a critical condition, the others have moderate injuries
- The stabbing rampage unfolded about 2:30pm local time on Monday
- A man was arrested at the scene and has been taken into police custody
Three people are fighting for life after a stabbing rampage inside a supermarket.
The horrific incident unfolded in the Countdown supermarket on Cumberland Street, Dunedin, New Zealand’s South Island, on Monday afternoon.
St John ambulance confirmed five people were rushed to hospital following the attack – three people have critical injuries and the others have moderate injuries.
Two of the injured are Countdown employees while the other three were customers who were inside the store at the time of the ferocious attack about 2:30pm (NZST).
Witnesses said a man carrying two knives had entered the store, which is located next to a police station and just metres from the iconic Dunedin Railway Station and the city’s heart, the Octagon.
Police said in a statement that one person was arrested. He is under police guard in hospital and is yet to be formally spoken to or charged.
Onlookers had reportedly tried to tackle the armed man to the ground before police arrived
A man who was injured in the stabbing rampage is taken from the scene by paramedics
Countdown employees embrace one another as a man with stab wounds is rushed to hospital
Southern District Police Commander Superintendent Paul Basham said it was a ‘fast-moving and extremely traumatic event for every person in that supermarket – the victims who were injured, those present who tried to intervene and those who had to flee to a place of safety’.
Supt Basham said while the investigation was still in its early stages, ‘on the face of what we currently know, we believe this was a random attack’.
A witness told the Otago Daily Times: ‘We just heard a scream and thought someone must’ve fallen, but it got louder and louder and more people were screaming’.
‘I saw one red hand among the people; a bloody hand, and everybody started running towards the exits.’
Onlookers had reportedly tried to tackle the armed man to the ground before police arrived.
A witness told Stuff the attacker was ‘quite a messy little fellow’ with curly hair.
The supermarket has been closed for the remainder of Monday, with police saying the ‘scene is currently locked down and will be the subject of an extensive scene examination’. It will stay closed on Tuesday.
Countdown managing director Spencer Sonn said the ‘priority right now is our injured team members and caring for our wider team in the wake of this extremely traumatic event’.
Police said in a statement that one person was arrested at the scene and taken into custody
The horrific stabbing attack unfolded about 2:30pm (NZST) on Monday. Emergency services are pictured at the scene
Emergency services are pictured outside the Countdown supermarket on Cumberland Street, Dunedin, New Zealand, on Monday afternoon after three people were left in a critical condition following a stabbing attack
‘We have been concerned about the escalating violence towards our team, and this is something we have continued to talk and raise as an issue over the last year.’
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said an early assessment by police indicated there was nothing to suggest a domestic terror event.
‘Needless to say such an attack is hugely concerning,’ Ms Ardern said.
‘Our thoughts are with all those who’ve been affected by this attack.’
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