Terrorism squad probes vehicle attack that critically injured Australian lawmaker

Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was in a critical condition on ​Monday after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying a terrorism taskforce would be investigating ‌an arrested suspect.

Albanese told a news conference it was too early to determine the motive for the attack but later pointed to the changing face of social media having raised the temperature around politics in a country where such violence is extremely rare.

Victoria Police said a 43-year-old man had been arrested after the attack on independent member of parliament Haines in Wangaratta, around three hours’ drive northeast ​of Melbourne.

Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason told a press conference that Haines was struck by a white Toyota Land Cruiser as it drove along Murphy Street, ​where Haines’ office is. The driver was detained by bystanders who saw the incident, he said. Mason said a knife was found inside ⁠the vehicle.

Haines, 65, was airlifted to hospital where she is in a critical condition, police and Albanese said.

Read more: Reuters