CANBERRA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that Australian politician Helen Haines was deliberately targeted in an attack on Monday that left her in a critical condition.
Haines, who has served as an independent member of the federal parliament since 2019, was hospitalized in a critical condition after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in the state of Victoria on Monday afternoon.
Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television on Tuesday that the driver of the vehicle had turned around to hit Haines while she was at the rear of her own vehicle.
"It's very clear that this was a deliberate act," he said.
Haines was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital on Monday night and remained in a critical condition on Tuesday after undergoing surgery.
The alleged driver of the vehicle, a 43-year-old man, was arrested at the scene and a knife found in the car was seized by police.
Albanese said on Tuesday that a joint counter-terrorism taskforce involving Victorian police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organization has commenced an investigation into the incident. ■
