Man arrested while holding knife at Granville police station
A knife-wielding man has been tasered and arrested in a dramatic showdown at a western Sydney police station.
Parramatta
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Police ruled out terror or religious motivations after a knife-wielding man threatened two officers outside Granville police station.
The 38-year-old Granville man was allegedly carrying a 30cm knife, forcing police to draw a firearm and Taser, when he walked towards the station’s front doors at Carlton St today at 7.53am.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell said he was charged with using a weapon to threaten a police officer and intent to commit an indictable offence.
“Clearly they were saying to him ‘put the knife down’ and he wasn’t complying with those instructions, and a number of Taser shots were attempted and eventually he was Tasered … and fell to the ground where other officers came out of the station and assisted with his arrest,’’ Mr Thurtell said.
CCTV and bystanders caught the dramatic showdown on footage, which shows at least seven officers surrounding the man after he was disarmed.
The alleged offender was treated briefly at Westmead Hospital but returned to Granville police station where charges are imminent.
Police also searched the man’s home but Mr Thurtell said no paraphernalia suggested there was a motivation for today’s incident.
Police said the man was born in Sudan but had lived in Australia for 14 years and was an Australian citizen.
“At this stage we’re unsure of his motivation,’’ Mr Thurtell said.
“There is no indication at all that this indication is terror related and there is no indication at all that it is religiously motivated.”
The man is known to NSW Health but was not known to police.
“There was no need for him to be at the police station.”
He is expected to appear at Parramatta Court on Tuesday, March 19.
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