Citizen 'heroes' Stop Deadly Australian Knife Rampage
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published August 13, 2019 | 04:50 PM
Sydney, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2019 ) :A knife-wielding man killed one person and attempted to stab several others in a central Sydney rampage Tuesday before being chased and pinned down by members of the public, witnesses told AFP.
Police said a 21-year-old Sydney man with a history of mental illness is believed to have killed a woman of around the same age in a residential unit before going on the rampage across the city centre.
New South Wales police commissioner Mick Fuller said the man had no known links to terror organisations, but did have a thumb drive with details of mass-casualty white-supremacist attacks in the United States and New Zealand.
Witness Megan Hales told AFP she saw a man brandishing a large kitchen knife chasing several people through the busy central business district shortly after lunchtime.
A 41-year-old woman who was stabbed is now said to be in a stable condition.
"Five or six others were chasing him behind, trying to stop him, they caught him and restrained him" in front of two popular cafes in the heart of the city, Hales said.
Four of the pursuers were Colombian-born Alex Roberts, and Britons Lee Cuthbert and brothers Paul and Luke O'Shaughnessy -- all colleagues at a recruitment consultancy who raced from their fourth-floor office to the street.
"We've opened the window and seen the guy wielding a knife and jumping on the bonnet" of a nearby car, Paul O'Shaughnessy, a former professional footballer, told AFP.
Convinced it was a terrorist attack, his brother Luke -- a champion Muay Thai boxer -- led the chase.
"We all just ran down the building and chased him down the street," said Roberts. "Everyone was kind of panicking, no one really knew what was happening," he said. "Not your normal Tuesday afternoon." Cuthbert said Luke, with the help of another man, "managed to get him down on to the floor and pin him down" with chairs and a plastic crate before police arrived.
"We're a very, very close team, we're a start-up recruitment company" he added. "We're all brothers really, so when you see brothers running, your natural instinct is to go and follow." Police said despite indications the assailant shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "shoot me" it was not yet clear whether there was a political motive.
"It would appear at this stage it is unprovoked but we are keeping a very open mind as we move forward," police spokesman superintendent Gavin Wood said, hailing the action of the bystanders.
"To approach a person... with clear evidence of a stabbing previously, these people are heroes." Prime Minister Scott Morrison also praised the bravery of the onlookers.
"The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and were able to able to restrain him," he said in a tweet.
"Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by this violent attack."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
2 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
3 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
4 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
4 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
4 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
4 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
6 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
10 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
11 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
11 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
14 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
16 days ago