4 stabbed in ‘random’ attack in Auckland

FOUR members of the public have been stabbed in what police say was a “random” and “isolated” incident on Auckland’s North Shore — where a woman says she had to run screaming after a man chased her off the beach with a “big knife”.

Police said the offender, who was in hospital after suffering moderate injuries, was stopped by members of the public — preventing the attack from “being a lot worse”.

Waitemata district commander Superintendent Naila Hassan said it would’ve been an extremely traumatic event for the victims involved.

The offender was a local person — and has been apprehended. He had randomly stabbed four members of the public who had suffered moderate injuries — before being stopped by a person using a crutch.

“This was an isolated incident,” she said.

“This offender was on the move, he was on foot, it started in Murrays Bay (where he stabbed members of the public), and he continued to walk through to Mairangi Bay.

“A number of members of the public were following him and eventually one of them intervened.

“It could’ve been a lot worse and that’s why I really need to acknowledge the bravery of those members of the public that intervened to bring this to a conclusion.”

The members of the public who had acted or helped had “acted with bravery”, Ms Hassan said.

The offender had “quite a large knife”, she said.

This was a random attack and there was no indication it was a hate crime, Hassan said.

“I really need to acknowledge the bravery of the members of the public who intervened,” she said. “It was a random attack.” The offender was in hospital and has been moderately injured. He will face charges, she confirmed.