Dunedin woman attacked at home

A woman was attacked in her Dunedin home yesterday after answering a knock at her front door.

Detective Inspector Kevin Hooper said the woman suffered stab wounds to her neck and face as well as bruising after she was attacked by an unknown assailant at her City Rise home.

The woman underwent surgery yesterday.

‘‘This is a very serious, potentially life-threatening incident and police seek the assistance of the Dunedin community and wider public for any information that may assist this investigation,’’ he said.

The victim’s 3-year-old daughter was home at the time but was unharmed in the incident.

The woman managed to fend off her assailant and left the house with her daughter, before a passing motorist took her to Dunedin Public Hospital where she was being treated.

The woman did not know her attacker, who is described as light- skinned, about 6ft tall (184cm) with short hair and facial stubble. He was wearing jeans and a black hoodie.

A forensic team from Christchurch would assist with the scene examination.

The police were yet to speak fully to the woman and would do so when she recovered.

Police were seeking information about any suspicious activity in the area between 7am and 9am yesterday, he said.

‘‘It may be that members of the community have noticed someone who matches the general description of the assailant, who was acting unusually or out of character either before or after this time,’’ he said.

Police also urged people living in the Duncan St area to search their properties and, if they found items that did not belong to them, to report it to police immediately.

Anyone with information should contact Dunedin police or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.