Independent Australian lawmaker Helen Haines, 65, is in critical but stable condition after being hit by a vehicle in what authorities described as a deliberate and targeted attack. The incident occurred Monday afternoon outside her electoral office in Wangaratta, Victoria State, when Haines was struck by an SUV.
Witnesses reported that the attacker reversed the vehicle and struck Haines a second time before a bystander intervened. Now receiving treatment in a Melbourne hospital, local media report that the lawmaker has lost a leg.
A 43-year-old man is in police custody and has been charged in connection with the attack. In a statement released by the suspect's parents, they stated that Haines had been their friend for more than 20 years.
The event has shocked the nation, with the prime minister calling the incident a deliberate act. This apparent escalation in political violence is considered extremely rare for the country, leaving many in a state of shock and confusion.