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Australian lawmaker critically injured by car is 'no accident,' prime minister says
PBS • • world
Key Points:
- Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines was critically injured after being deliberately hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria; the driver, a 43-year-old man, was arrested at the scene.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the involvement of the national counterterrorism team in the investigation, emphasizing that the incident appears to be a deliberate attack with unknown motives.
- Police found a knife inside the vehicle, and authorities are exploring whether the act was intentional, while Haines remains hospitalized with critical injuries.
- The attack has heightened concerns about the safety of Australian politicians amid rising threats and a polarized political climate, with threats against parliamentarians doubling over the past three years.
- Albanese highlighted the negative impact of social media on political discourse and called for more respectful conversation, drawing parallels to increased security measures for politicians in other countries following similar attacks.
