By Jessica McSweeney and Sally Rawsthorne
Two men will face court on Friday over the alleged assault of an off-duty police officer who was repeatedly kicked and punched in the head in a shocking attack in Sydney’s inner west.
Horrified onlookers watched as paramedics worked to revive the 26-year-old officer who was knocked to the ground when he and his colleague were allegedly set upon by three men on Enmore Road in Newtown on Wednesday night.
The two male off-duty officers were walking down Enmore Road after an Alec Benjamin concert at the Enmore Theatre when they came upon the group of men having an argument.
Police say the attack lasted several minutes until the officer fell unconscious in the road, and his three alleged attackers fled the scene. An off-duty nurse ran to the officers’ aid and administered CPR before paramedics arrived.
One triple-zero caller reported the officer had been coward-punched.
Two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested at a home in Mascot at 3.20pm on Thursday. The 20-year-old was charged with two grievous bodily harm offences, and the 18-year-old man was charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and larceny.
They are expected to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday. A third man remains at large.
The attack was captured in a video clip Police Minister Yasmin Catley described as “incredibly violent” and “distressing to watch”.
“These types of violent crimes are not what we want to see on our streets. This is a despicable act against two officers who were out enjoying themselves in this very vibrant part of our city, and we now have an officer who is still in hospital,” she said.
Premier Chris Minns said he was “devastated” to hear about the assault and that his thoughts were with the “brave” officers.
“These men saw an incident, went to assist those involved and were brutally attacked. This is sickening,” Minns said.
“Every day, our police force put their lives on the line to keep us safe – even when they’re not in uniform.
“All NSW will be thinking of these brave men and their families.”
The 26-year-old officer was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, which has since been downgraded to serious but stable.
His colleague, aged 25, was taken to hospital for facial injuries and has since been released.
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