A high-risk manhunt is underway in Sydney’s west after a 28-year-old Tongan national allegedly stabbed two Australian Border Force officers during a botched deportation attempt.
The detainee, who had been held at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for overstaying his visa, violently attacked the officers while being transported to Sydney Airport for removal.
One officer was stabbed in the neck, while another sustained injuries during the struggle, according to a Sky News report.
Authorities have warned the public not to approach the fugitive if spotted but to immediately contact police.
The man, whose identity has not been released, is considered dangerous.
The incident has reignited concerns in Tonga over the US and Australia’s increasing deportations of Pacific Islanders, with local officials warning that the nation’s overcrowded prison system cannot handle the influx of returning offenders.
Tonga’s King’s Prison is already at breaking point, raising fears that deportees could strain resources further.
More updates to come.
