One man stabbed, two others injured in fight at Modbury interchange, sparking safety calls
There are calls for increased security at Adelaide bus networks after a brawl left three injured, including one man with stab wounds, at Modbury. Picture: 7 News
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Three men were injured including one who was stabbed in a violent brawl at Tea Tree Plaza bus interchange in Modbury.
Police were alerted to the fight after receiving multiple 000 calls from members of the public about 7.50pm on Monday.
When officers arrived they found a man, 30, with a stab wound to the chest, and two other men aged 24 and 19 with minor injuries.
The stabbing victim was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment but his injuries were not considered life threatening.
The two others injured were taken to Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals for treatment.
A Modbury woman, 21, was arrested at the scene. She was charged with affray and aggravated assault causing harm. She was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on March 1.
The incident has sparked calls for greater security at the interchange from the Deputy Mayor of Tea Tree Gully Council, Lucas Jones.
“Every single time an event like this happens I call for the state government to get involved and to install a security guard on a permanent basis 24/7, but the request falls on deaf ears,” Mr Jones said.
“We have thousands of people using this interchange every day, they shouldn’t have to deal with young thugs running around with knives, causing trouble.
“It’s got to a stage now where I think the state government has no option but to take this matter seriously and provide the communities with a bit of peace of mind.”
Mr Jones made calls for change after the previous four serious crimes at the interchange in the past 18 months, and said most violence was caused by ‘eshays’.
“The feedback I’ve received from residents is that the vast majority of people causing the trouble are known as ‘eshays’,” he said.
“Essentially people as young as 10 up to teenagers who should be at school or home, but instead have nothing better to do than hang around the interchange, intimidate commuters and get into fights stabbing each other.”
Mr Jones said the state government employed one security guard on Thursday nights to coincide with late-night shopping at Tea Tree Plaza, but otherwise the station was left unattended.
The Transport Workers’ Union also called for greater security across Adelaide’s bus networks.
“There is a safety crisis engulfing the Adelaide bus network and we need more security to ensure bus drivers and the travelling public are kept safe,” TWU SA branch secretary Sam McIntosh said.
“Tea Tree Plaza interchange has been a known problem area for incidents of assault and anti-social behaviour, and there needs to be an increased security presence there as a matter of urgency.”
They called on the state government to increase security presence with a focus on “high-risk locations”.
But a reply to the union from a state government spokesman said since 2018, public transport safety, including the use of roving security guards, had been boosted to “deter anti-social behaviour and prevent serious incidents”.
“Mobile rapid-response vehicles, carrying two guards each, have also been increased to provide more widespread coverage across the public transport network, including evidence-based targeting of incident hot spots at major stations and interchanges,” the spokesman said.
Eastern District detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the fight who is yet to speak to police to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
It follows a brawl at Brompton on Sunday evening.
The fight broke out on Hawker St at about 9.30pm and two men, aged 22, were stabbed.
Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
More Coverage
Police hunting suspect after cop punch in wild crime spree
A home was allegedly smashed up before a police patrol was rammed by a stolen car and an officer was punched in the face in a wild crime spree involving three armed men on Sunday.
Read more
Speirs signs off: What ex-top Lib said in last letter to voters
The former opposition leader, now facing drug supply charges, has laid bare his “heavy heart” in a letter to thousands of voters in Adelaide’s south. Read it here.
Read more