A mum has been repeatedly stabbed while defending her son from a random attacked outside Victoria Police’s headquarters in the Melbourne CBD
A man has been arrested in Melbourne’s CBD after allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old boy before stabbing his mum, who stepped in to help the child.
The young boy from Bass Coast was allegedly assaulted on Spencer St near the corner of La Trobe St – where the headquarters of Victoria Police are located – about 1pm on Tuesday.
Victoria Police said his mum, 46, tried to intervene and stop the attack then was stabbed in the upper body.
She was taken to hospital along with the boy to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A 27-year-old Sunshine West man was arrested shortly afterwards.
The Herald Sun reports the mum and her son were on a family holiday at the time the attack unfolded.
Superintendent Zorka Dunstan said the mother and her three kids were walking along the footpath when the Sunshine West man randomly punched her son.
“He (allegedly) grabbed the mother in a headlock and he started to stab her repeatedly with a pair of scissors,” she said.
“A citizen immediately intervened and jumped onto the 27-year-old male, he’s grabbed him off the female and … we had two other citizens also come and assist pinning him down.”
Police quickly attended the incident and arrested the man, who is known to police in Victoria, NSW and Western Australia.
The superintendent said fortunately the other two children were not injured but were distressed after witnessing a horrific attack on their mum and brother.
“I gave (one of the boys) a hug because you know I was impacted just by watching how he reacted,” she said.
“I’m just grateful that we had people assist immediately, there’s no doubt that if they didn’t assist it would have been a lot more serious.
“It’s heroic … we are so grateful … and I’m sure the family are as well.”
A pair of scissors were seized by police.
The man is in custody and will be interviewed by police.
He has not been charged.
Police believe he was not known to the woman and boy.
The incident unfolded just down the road from the Spencer St Police Station.
More to come
Read related topics:Melbourne