In short:
Federal independent MP Helen Haines has been critically injured after being struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her regional office in Wangaratta, Victoria.
asserted
Haines → injure → Wangaratta
Police located a knife inside the vehicle and have since taken a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man into custody.
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Police → locate → custody
Police are working to establish a motivation for the incident.
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Police → work → incident
The road outside the electorate office of independent MP Helen Haines has become an active police scene after the 65-year-old was allegedly struck by a vehicle this afternoon.
uncertain
old → become → vehicle
Ms Haines was critically injured in the incident, which has been described by the prime minister as an "attack".
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which → injure → attack
Here's what we know.
What happened?
According to police, initial investigations have determined Ms Haines was struck by a Toyota LandCruiser about 3:30pm on Murphy Street, outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria.
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Haines → know → Wangaratta
One witness told the ABC she heard a bang and saw a woman pinned between two cars.
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woman → tell → cars
A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man was stopped by a member of the public and has since been taken into custody, police said in a statement.
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police → stop → statement
Police said a knife was found in the vehicle and they were investigating whether the incident was "intentional".
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incident → say → vehicle
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the incident as a deliberate attack.
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Albanese → describe → attack
The prime minister told 7.30: "We know that this was a serious incident."
"The first I was told was that there'd been a car accident, so I did not think of anything other than an accident,"he said.
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I → tell → accident,"he
It is understood the driver is known to police and will undergo a mental health assessment.
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driver → understand → assessment
Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said the scene was "quite dynamic" and that detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit would be investigating.
Mr Albanese has said a joint counter terrorism unit had been activated but it was too early to say what was behind the incident.
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what → say → incident
MP suffers critical injuries
Victoria
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MP → suffer → injuries
Police said Ms Haines had suffered critical injuries as a result of the alleged attack.
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Haines → say → attack
She was rushed to hospital and flown to Melbourne to undergo emergency surgery for severe injuries to her lower body.
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She → rush → body
Ms Haines's family has released a statement on the incident, thanking first responders for their swift response and asking for privacy amid the ongoing investigation.
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family → release → investigation
"This afternoon, our beloved Helen was involved in an incident outside her Wangaratta Electorate Office, and is receiving medical care," the statement reads.
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statement → involve → care
"Our family, and Helen’s staff, will be making no further comment at this time, and ask that their privacy be respected by the public and media.
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privacy → make → public
How have politicians responded?
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politicians → respond → ?
Ms Haines has been described as a respected political figure across party divides.
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Haines → describe → divides
Mr Albanese has called Ms Haines a "beacon of light" for the regional community in Northern Victoria.
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Albanese → call → Victoria
He said Ms Haines was someone "loved and admired because she's someone of integrity".
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she → say → integrity
The prime minister also called for the "political temperature" to be lowered amid increasing rhetoric of violence against representatives.
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temperature → call → representatives
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said he was deeply shocked by the incident.
"
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he → say → incident
Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised,"he said.
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attacks → become → ?
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll said he was "appalled" by the "violent attack" on Helen Haines.
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he → say → Haines
"My thoughts, and the thoughts of all Victorians, are with Helen, her family, her friends, her colleagues and her community," he said.
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he → say → Helen
"I know how devastating this will be for the Wangaratta community and all those who Helen represents.
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Helen → know → who
An individual has been apprehended, and I thank police for their swift action."
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I → apprehend → action
The Aporia
