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Australian prime minister says lawmaker critically injured by car is 'no accident'
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines was critically injured after being deliberately hit by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria, with the driver arrested at the scene.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the incident is being treated as a deliberate attack and is under investigation by the national counterterrorism team, though the motive remains unknown.
- Police seized a knife from the vehicle, and the driver, aged 43, is being interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation into whether the act was intentional.
- The attack has heightened concerns about the safety of Australian politicians amid rising threats and public incitement, with reported threats against parliamentarians doubling in recent years.
- Albanese highlighted increasing political polarization and social media’s role in escalating tensions, noting that similar attacks on politicians have led to enhanced security measures in other countries like the UK.
