Paea Teu faces court over alleged stabbings of Australian Border Force contractors

An immigration detainee who allegedly attacked two guards and fled while being escorted to Sydney Airport for deportation will remain behind bars on remand.

Immigration detainee Paea Teu allegedly attacked two Australian Border Force contractors before fleeing. Picture: Supplied

An immigration detainee who allegedly attacked two guards and fled while being escorted to Sydney Airport for deportation will remain behind bars on remand.

Paea Teu did not apply for bail when he fronted Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

The 28-year-old was arrested on Friday night after more than 36 hours on the run from police and the Australian Border Force.

Police ultimately tracked him to St Andrews, in Sydney’s southwest, where he was arrested alongside a 24-year-old woman, who was later charged with harbouring an escaped inmate.

Teu, a Tongan national, allegedly launched a 20-minute attack inside an escort vehicle at Clyde while being taken from Villawood to the airport early on Thursday morning.

Paea Teu was being transported in a Kia Carnival to Sydney Airport to be deported to Tonga. Picture: Thomas Lisson

He is accused of stabbing Australian Border Force contractors aged 36 and 54, allegedly striking the older man in the neck and cheek with a shiv made from nail clippers.

Teu had been classified as “low risk” and wasn’t handcuffed during the transfer.

Bloodied documents in the vehicle that was transporting Teu. Picture: Thomas Lisson

He faces charges of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and is yet to enter pleas.

The contractors worked for MTC Secure journeys, a firm recently awarded a $2.3bn federal contract to manage Australia’s onshore detention network.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has been briefed on the incident but declined to comment.

Teu, who was remanded in custody, is due back in court on July 11