Police officer stabbed at Central Station during arrest

Constable Hayden Edwards is lucky to be alive after a man allegedly attacked him with a 45cm blade in the back while investigating an incident at Central Station.

A man has been charged after a police officer was stabbed with a 45cm hunting knife at Central Station on Friday night.

Constable Hayden Edwards, 30, was taken to RPA in a serious condition and had surgery on the 6cm wound to his back. He was released on Saturday afternoon.

Thirty-year-old Constable Hayden Edwards Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

A 53-year-old man was charged on Saturday with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, use offensive weapon to prevent lawful arrest, resist arrest, and custody of a knife in a public place.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.

Police said Constable Edwards, an officer with the Police Transport Command, was responding to an incident on platform one when he was stabbed.

Police establish a crime scene at Central. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

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“Police were talking to two people when a 53-year-old man allegedly stabbed the officer in the back,” a NSW Police statement said.

“Police from Sydney City Police Area Command will allege the armed man threatened three other officers with a hunting knife, before he was arrested after a Taser was deployed.”

Police search the area after the stabbing. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Const Edwards, 30, a police officer with three years experience, had only moved to Sydney from a posting in the Moree area when he was stabbed.

“He’s obviously in some pain still,” his boss Chief inspector Paul Carrett said on Saturday.

“I think the matter is still sinking in but he is surrounded by his family, by his police family and he is very appreciative of the support he has received.”

A photo of a hunting knife seized by police.

The alleged attacked was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, where he was treated for lacerations, before he was charged.

Speaking outside the Sydney Police Centre on Saturday, Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb said the officer was lucky to be alive after being blindsided in the unprovoked attack.

Police search and photograph the area as part of their investigation. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

“(The alleged offender) approached with some vigour towards the back of the officer,” she said.

“And I have to say having seen an image of that knife our officer is very lucky to only have minor injuries.”

Pepper spray is the worst. In future, I will try not to walk into a cloud of it during an unfolding police operation 😫 #centralstation pic.twitter.com/IjldetwLQ1

— Brooke Wylie (@brookewylie) April 19, 2019

Both senior officers visited the injured officer in hospital on Saturday.

The crime scene at Central Station. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

“He’s resting and hasn’t had a lot of sleep and no doubt he will be in a fair bit of pain,” Ms Webb said. “I think he is very lucky given the circumstances that he is now recovering.”

Mr Webb said the injured officer had received many calls from the community offering support.

A police officer is in a serious but stable condition after he was stabbed at Central Station. The 25-year-old was rushed to RPA to treat a large stab wound to his left side. The offender was caught at the scene. @ChrisReason7 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/jSJziZB7y1

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) April 19, 2019

“It’s always concerning when one of these incidents occur,” Mr Webb said. “But … the police are there to do a job and in this situation it’s just one of those unfortunate things.”

“We’re very very thankful that the officer hasn’t received a more serious injury,” he said.