Helen Haines, a respected cross-party figure known for her integrity, was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital in critical condition following Monday’s incident; she underwent surgery after unloading items from her vehicle.
The driver, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent from nearby Tarrawingee—a radical anti-Israel activist and former environmental campaigner—was subject to a citizen’s arrest, with police finding a knife in his car.
Radical anti-Israel leftist REVEALED as suspect in horrific attack on Helen Haines MP
Left-wing activists were quick to blame Pauline Hanson as the shocking attack unfolded. But following a citizen’s arrest, police took Brendan Nugent into custody — a man whose social media feed reads like that of a Greens MP.
Counter-terrorism authorities and ASIO are probing possible motives amid rising threats to politicians, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the act deliberate and praised the intervening bystanders as heroes.
Haines is a respected public servant, and my thoughts are with her, her family, staff and the Indi community. The reports describe the vehicle strike as deliberate; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the car made a U-turn before hitting her. I hope she receives the best possible care and can recover. The motive has not been established publicly, so it’s important not to speculate or treat unverified details about her injuries as confirmed
The man accused of attacking Helen Haines allegedly made a U-turn before ramming the independent MP twice in an alleged targeted attack near her electorate office, causing her to lose one of her legs.
The member for Indi was airlifted from Wangaratta in northern Victoria to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital for emergency surgery on Monday night.
Surgeons were on Tuesday fighting to save Haines’ other leg, as the 65-year-old remained in a critical condition.
A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man alleged to have driven the Toyota LandCruiser was arrested at the scene. The alleged attacker has been named as Tarrawingee man Brendan Nugent, Guardian Australia has confirmed.