Alleged stabbing in store
THREE people are in custody after an alleged double knife attack in a CBD surfwear shop.
Police arrived at City Beach in Cairns Central shortly after 2pm yesterday and arrested the trio about 2.40pm.
Witnesses saw the attacker allegedly brandishing a steak knife and slashing at a staff member and bystander.
THREE people are in custody after an alleged double knife attack in a CBD surfwear shop.
Police arrived at City Beach in Cairns Central shortly after 2pm yesterday and arrested the trio at about 2.40pm.
Witness Lora Patalano was shaken by what she saw unfold during what would have been an unremarkable day of pre-Christmas shopping.
“I have been a local for 47 years and I have never seen anything like this in the shopping centre,” Ms Patalano said.
The Redlynch resident was standing just metres away when a female, brandishing what Ms Patalano described as “a steak knife,” slashed at a staff member and bystander.
“I was walking up to the counter and there was all this scuffling and noise going on,” Ms Patalano said.
“I saw a young girl walk behind the counter and attack the girl who was working behind the counter.
“An older woman, maybe in her 50s, went in to help and she just swung around and attacked her as well.”
Ms Patalano saw both victims bleeding after the chaotic incident.
“The woman was cut all up her arm,” she said.
“The younger girl didn’t even realise she was bleeding until I told her.”
Security closed the shop and ushered customers out, but not before the alleged attacker ran from the store, knife in hand. “She wasn’t hiding the knife at all,” Ms Patalano said.
“Everyone was overwhelmed with the shock of it all.”
Details of the exchange between the alleged attacker and the staff member are still uncertain.
“(The alleged attacker) was saying: ‘I’ll have a go at you all, get out of my way’,” Ms Patalano said.
“There was a whole lot of noise that I could not understand.
“There were other girls that seemed to know the one with the knife.” It is understood the staff member did not know her alleged attacker.
Paramedics attended the shop shortly after the incident and treated the two alleged victims, who were able to walk from the shop unaided.
Both were sporting bandages on parts of their arms.
“It’s quite overwhelming, it happened so quickly,” Ms Patalano said.
“You don’t think you’ll be at City Beach and get stabbed.”
City Beach and Cairns Central have been asked for comment.