Dramatic moment police officer stabbed in back caught on camera

This is the shocking moment a man wielding a 30-centimetre knife calmly walks up to a police officer and plunges it into his back. Footage shows Constable Hayden Edwards crumple before he, incredibly, regains his feet, pulls his weapon and trains it on his assailant. WARNING: GRAPHIC

• Police officer stabbed at Central Station

This is the shocking moment a man wielding a 30-centimetre knife calmly walks up to a police officer and plunges it into his back.

Video footage obtained by The Daily Telegraph shows Constable Hayden Edwards crumpling to his haunches as he feels the wound and realises he has been stabbed.

Then, incredibly, he regains his feet, pulls his weapon and trains it on his assailant along with two police colleagues.

The assailant approaches Constable Edwards.

Constable Edwards is stabbed in the back.

Police in a standoff with the attacker.

Officers raise their guns at the attacker.

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The man, holding a black bag and shouting and waving the knife at the officers, backs away until he is out view from the camera where police storm at him with tasers and arrest him.

Friday night’s attack at Sydney’s Central Station happened after police had been called to a report of an assault and were taking to two people.

Yesterday, a Queensland man, 53-year-old Mark Thompson, appeared in Parramatta Local Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful arrest, resisting arrest and custody of a knife in a public place. He was refused bail.

Constable Hayden Edwards was released from hospital yesterday. Picture: AAP

Constable Hayden Edwards was stabbed in the back on Friday night. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

After the incident Constable Edwards was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he underwent surgery and was released on Saturday.

“Having seen the knife, our officer is very lucky to have walked away with only minor injuries,” Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said.

“(It) was an unprovoked attack. We allege the offender has approached with some vigour.”

Court documents reveal Thompson’s residential address is in Townsville.

A photo of a hunting knife seized by police. Picture: AAP

When reporters visited yesterday they found the unit had a smashed glass door, the airconditioning was running, and empty alcohol cartons were on the floor.

A man who lived in the unit below said three lots of tenants had shuffled in and out over the past eight months.

Constable Edwards had only recently moved to Sydney from a posting in the Moree area when he was stabbed.

The police officer is “very lucky” to have walked away. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

A large crime scene was set up at Central Station. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Chief Inspector Paul Carrett said the “very competent” officer was sore and tired after the attack.

“A stabbing of a police officer — unprovoked — is a very serious matter,” he said.

The police union said it highlighted the dangers police face on the job.