Australian lawmaker hurt in car attack loses leg: media
Summary
Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was deliberately hit by a car outside her office and has lost a leg after surgery. The driver, Brendan Nugent, was arrested, and police are investigating the attack, which is uncommon in Australia but comes amid a rise in threats to politicians.Key Facts
- Helen Haines, an independent Australian lawmaker, was struck by a Toyota Land Cruiser near her office in Wangaratta on October 19, 2026.
- The attack was deliberate; the driver made a U-turn to hit her again after passing.
- Haines was critically injured, underwent surgery, and lost a leg.
- The driver, Brendan Nugent, was restrained by a local barber named Ricky Jefferies and then arrested.
- Police found a knife in Nugent’s car, and he was known to law enforcement.
- The investigation involves federal and state police, as well as the counter-terrorism squad.
- Charges may include harm to a government official, which can lead to up to 10 years in prison.
- The motive for the attack is still unknown, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for calm as the investigation continues.
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