Surveillance cameras captured the unsettling moment when a woman was unexpectedly attacked in broad daylight while making her way to her job at a sushi restaurant in Melbourne’s central business district.
The 36-year-old victim had just departed from her residence near the crossroads of Little Bourke and Spencer streets at around 7:40 a.m. on October 2, when she was reportedly attacked by a stranger.
The footage reveals the suspect sprinting up from behind, gripping what seems to be a ball in one hand and a knife in the other.
The attacker abruptly halts in front of the victim, stabbing her before fleeing the scene on foot.
In an interview with 9News, the victim recounted feeling a tap on her back, turning around, and immediately being stabbed.
The assailant’s attack resulted in a punctured lung, causing the woman to collapse in severe pain. Fortunately, passersby quickly came to her assistance, and she was transported to the hospital.
She has since recovered but has been left shaken up by the incident and has moved house.
Her family told 9News the attack should not have happened.
“When we receive a phone call from her working place owner, it’s quite confusing and shocked at the same time,” her brother-in-law Chia Ting said.
“It’s not right. It should be safe to walk along,” her sister Ivana Lai said.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the attack was “absolutely sickening” and shared her support to the victim.
“I send my support to the victim of this crime and their family,” she said in a statement this evening.
“No one who commits brazen, violent acts like this should be on the streets.
“The accused offender is currently on remand awaiting court. I thank the men and women of Victoria Police for their swift response.”
Police have arrested a 32-year-old woman from Melbourne and seized a knife.
She has been charged with two counts of intentionally causing injury and one count of committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.
She faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court the following day and was remanded in custody.
