SYDNEY/MELBOURNE, Oct 20 (Reuters) – Doctors have amputated the leg of an Australian lawmaker after a man rammed her with his car and then reversed to hit her a second time, local media and officials said on Tuesday, in an incident being investigated by anti-terrorism police.
Helen Haines, an independent, underwent surgery overnight and remained in critical condition after Monday’s attack in the small rural town of Wangaratta, north of Melbourne.
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The motive for the attack has yet to be revealed, but Australia’s prime minister has linked it to a climate of ugly, polarised political debate in the country.
“It’s clear that there was a deliberate act here. This wasn’t an accident, someone just skidding off the road,” Albanese told ABC News.
Early investigations suggested the car hit Haines as she was loading or unloading things from the trunk of her car, he said.
Australian media, citing unidentified sources, reported Haines had lost one leg as a result of her injuries and that doctors were working to save the other leg.
A 43-year-old man was arrested following the attack, with counter-terrorism authorities among the multiple agencies involved in the investigation.
Police are considering potential charges, including causing harm to a public official – an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment – as they work to establish a motive for the attack.
“At this stage it appears this is an isolated incident,” Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
