Two people have been arrested after a shocking pair of unrelated stabbings in Auckland’s Rānui left multiple injured, including a bystander and a police officer who was struck as a knife-wielding man lunged at him.
Police said a detective and officer were at a medical centre helping to treat a victim from an earlier stabbing when a second, unrelated attack unfolded outside.
A St John spokesperson said it was notified at 11.59am of an incident on Swanson Rd.
One person in a serious condition was taken to Auckland Hospital, while another person in a moderate condition was taken to North Shore Hospital.
The two separate incidents began with a report to emergency services just before 12pm, according to a police account of events.
Around midday, officers were called to a home on Swanson Rd following “reports of a disorder involving a group of people,” said Detective Inspector Callum McNeill.
Police found a person with “non-life-threatening stab wounds” at the scene.
“A 23-year-old woman was taken into custody over the incident, and the person with injuries was transported to a medical centre on Swanson Road,” he said.
The suspect in the first stabbing was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and is due in the Waitakere District Court on May 11.
While at the medical centre, a detective and frontline staff were present with the victim when a separate and unrelated stabbing incident began outside, McNeill said.
“Our officers have become aware of a commotion outside, where a person had been running away after being stabbed in the head,” he said.
“Officers have moved outside to ascertain what was taking place, when they have seen the offender that had been chasing the victim.”
The man was allegedly carrying a knife and “lunged at both officers”, knocking one over and striking his body armour, according to police.
He then fled, but not before stabbing a member of the public in the shoulder as they waited for a bus at a nearby stop, McNeill alleged.
“The alleged offender, a 29-year-old man, was swiftly taken into custody by other police colleagues nearby as they were already on scene due to the earlier incident,” he said.
The detective inspector said the victims from the second stabbing were in hospital with “serious, but not life-threatening injuries”.
“Our detective has suffered grazing injuries, and it is extremely fortunate that these were not serious injuries. The other officer was not injured,” he said.
“This was an extremely concerning event, and I can reassure the wider community that our enquiries suggest that we are dealing with two separate and isolated incidents.”
Nearby Rānui Primary School informed the community about the incident in Facebook post at 2.20pm.
“There was an incident at Rānui Medical Centre today,” the post said.
“It is SAFE now but the road has been blocked and there will be traffic.”
A 29-year-old male was due in the Waitākere District Court tomorrow charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault with a weapon, according to police.
Four ambulances, one rapid response unit and one operations manager responded to the incidents, a St John spokesperson said.
