A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder after another man was stabbed in Minto, a suburb of Sydney, yesterday.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 4pm yesterday, where it is alleged a 59-year-old man was stabbed a number of times while out walking.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said the man suffered serious injuries to his body and hands and remains in hospital in a critical condition.
When police arrived at the scene, attempts were allegedly made to stab an officer through a window before the 22-year-old man was arrested.
A large knife was seized for forensic examination and the man was taken to Macquarie Fields Police Station.
The victim and the other man were not known to each other.
The man was refused bailed today. An investigation is ongoing.
‘Inspired by Islamic State’
Speaking at a news conference, deputy commissioner Catherine Burn said the suspect “has strong extremist beliefs inspired by ISIS (Islamic State)”.
“What made him actually act yesterday, we don’t know. But hopefully, our further investigations will uncover that. It was deliberate. It was violent,” she stated.
Police said they wanted to reassure the local community there is no ongoing threat in relation to this incident.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it is of note the stabbing occurred on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the US, adding the events were connected by “violent Islamic ideology” and “heroism”.
Sky News Australia reports Turnbull told reporters in Canberra a person sheltered the victim and a bystander confronted the assailant and managed to keep him at bay until police arrived.
“We honour those heroes of today just as we honour the heroes of 9/11,” Turnbull said.
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