A 27-year-old man has been charged after a mother was allegedly stabbed repeatedly and her 10-year-old son punched during what police described as a random attack outside Victoria Police headquarters in central Melbourne.
The 46-year-old woman, from Cowes on Phillip Island, was walking along Spencer Street with her three children on Tuesday afternoon when the confrontation occurred. Police allege the man first punched the boy in the upper body, continued walking briefly, then turned back towards the family.
Victoria Police Superintendent Zorka Dunstan said the man allegedly placed the mother in a headlock and stabbed her several times with a pair of scissors, primarily in her back and shoulder area. The alleged attack happened near the corner of Spencer and La Trobe streets shortly after 1pm.
Bystanders intervene during alleged attack
A passer-by tackled the alleged attacker and pulled him away from the woman, police said. Two other members of the public then helped restrain the man until officers arrived from the nearby police station.
Superintendent Dunstan praised the witnesses who stepped in, describing their intervention as heroic and saying the outcome could have been substantially worse without their immediate action.
Officers reached the scene within minutes and arrested the man. Police also seized the scissors allegedly used during the incident.
The mother was taken by ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Her 10-year-old son was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital as a precaution. The woman’s other two children, aged 11 and 16, were not physically injured but witnessed the incident.
Police said the family had been visiting Melbourne from Phillip Island. Investigators do not believe the accused knew the family, and no motive has been established publicly.
Sunshine West man charged
Victoria Police said the Sunshine West man was charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, two counts of unlawful assault, conduct endangering life and conduct endangering serious injury.
He was remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The charges are allegations and the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty.
Police said the man was known to authorities. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether health-related factors may be relevant. No formal explanation for the alleged attack has yet been given.
Police describe impact on family
Superintendent Dunstan said she saw part of the incident from her office and later spoke with the children. She described the 11-year-old boy as visibly distressed by what he had witnessed.
The attack’s proximity to the police headquarters brought a rapid response, but police stressed that violence of this kind would be deeply concerning in any location. Their account focused particularly on the speed with which members of the public acted to protect the woman and her children.
Emergency services were called at about 1.10pm, according to Ambulance Victoria. Advanced life support paramedics treated the injured mother and child before transporting them to hospital by road.
Investigation remains open
Police have appealed for anyone with information, mobile phone footage or dashcam vision from the Spencer Street area around the time of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
As the matter is now before the courts, further details about the evidence and the accused’s response to the charges are expected to emerge through legal proceedings. Authorities have not released the names of the woman or her children.
The incident remains under investigation. Police have not indicated that any other person is being sought in connection with the alleged attack.
