A knifeman was shot dead after stabbing at least five people in a shopping centre rampage in Australia today.
Witnesses said an attacker wearing a high-vis jacket and armed with a carving knife stabbed one person in a McDonald’s car park before bursting into the mall and attacking several others.
The knifeman was killed by a gunshot after police had initially tried to Taser him at the shopping centre in South Hedland, Western Australia.
Five people are being treated in hospital for stab wounds including two in a serious condition, police said. The motive for the attack is unclear.
Esther Brooks (pictured showing her bloodied shirt in hospital, with her stab wound shown right) was one of several people stabbed at a shopping centre in Australia today
One of the victims was revealed to be Esther Brooks, a customer who was buying iced coffees and was stabbed in the back by the unknown attacker.
Speaking from hospital, her boyfriend David Derschow said he had ‘no idea’ why she had been attacked.
He said Ms Brooks ‘didn’t know’ the knifeman and was in such a state of shock that she did not initially realise she had been stabbed.
‘She’s good now, she didn’t know she was stabbed until she asked if she was stabbed,’ he added.
Mr Derschow said he heard screaming coming from the shopping centre and walked there to find the carnage.
‘A Good Samaritan, within minutes of walking out, offered to take us to the emergency room,’ he said.
Five people are being treated for stab wounds at Hedland Health Campus. Three are in a stable condition and two in a serious but stable condition.
One of those in a serious condition is believed to have been stabbed in the neck.
Witnesses said police had initially tried to restrain the man with a Taser before eventually shooting him dead.
A police van is seen outside South Hedland Square (pictured) where multiple people were stabbed by a man wielding a carving knife on Friday morning
The aftermath of the stabbing at a north Western Australian shopping centre on Friday morning (pictured) which left five in hospital and the attacker dead
A shop owner, known only as George, said the Taser seemed to have no effect on the man.
‘This guy pushed a police lady against the window and then she fell over,’ he told 6PR radio.
‘The cops tried to tell him to stop. He wouldn’t stop.
‘They tasered him four or five times. Nothing happened. It didn’t have any effect whatsoever on him.’
The female officer was nearly stabbed in the neck while her colleagues tried to restrain him to stop the carnage, before shooting him in the chest.
‘I saw the man run past being chased by two officers,’ a witness said.
‘They were trying to stop him with their tasers, but he wasn’t stopping. He then ran towards the female officer and swiped towards her neck.
‘It was at that point I took my daughter behind the counter and then heard the gun shot. They immediately asked for medical support.
‘Once I knew it was safe, I was helped to get out the back door to shield my daughter from it.
David Derschow (pictured) said his girlfriend Esther Brooks (pictured together left) had been stabbed by the knifeman on Friday morning. Her shirt was left covered in blood (right)
The terrifying incident took place at South Headland Square shopping centre in Western Australia (pictured)
‘I can not thank the police officers enough and just hope the others hurt will be OK.
‘The police deserve a medal, they were heroes. If it weren’t for them, more people would have been hurt or even killed.’
Port Hedland Commissioner Fred Riebeling says one of the victims is a council employee who works at a local theatre.
‘It’s all really upsetting,’ he said. ‘If there’s five or half a dozen people injured, half the town will probably know someone involved.’
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed multiple people were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.
Western Australia Police said the attack was under investigation.
‘As per normal protocols, Major Crime Division and Professional Standards Division will investigate the circumstances surrounding the police shooting,’ a statement said.
‘There is no ongoing concern regarding public safety in South Hedland.’
WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said a team had been deployed to assist members involved in the incident and their colleagues.
‘Our information indicates our members acted to protect the community and themselves, and without their intervention this incident would be significantly more tragic for the Hedland community,’ he said in a statement.
‘This incident again highlights the unique and dangerous job that police officers do.’