Man, 20, charged after alleged stabbing at Brunswick shopping centre
Detectives have charged a man with attempted murder after a customer was allegedly stabbed while waiting in line at a Brunswick Woolies on Monday.
Police & Courts
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Detectives have charged a man with attempted murder following a violent alleged stabbing on two Woolworths shoppers in Brunswick on Monday.
Rory MacAuley, 20, from Brunswick, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, as well as intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury and shop theft.
Police allege he stabbed two men in an unprovoked attack just after 8am at the Barkly Square shopping centre on Sydney Rd.
Both alleged victims were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Mr MacAuley appeared via telephone from his Royal Melbourne Hospital bed in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon.
He was overheard saying “what’s the point of this?” when first dialling in, before the court muted him.
The court heard he has Asperger’s Syndrome and schizophrenia.
Both alleged victims were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Mr MacAuley made no application for bail.
Charge sheets allege he stole a Wiltshire-branded “stay sharp” carving knife, valued at $24, from Woolworths, and threatened to kill one of the men.
He was remanded to reappear in court on February 9.
Woolworths pulled knives and scissors from shelves nationwide in the wake of the incident and the company on Wednesday confirmed it had temporarily removed both items from sales in all stores across Australia.
“Following a distressing incident at one of our Victorian stores, we’ve taken the precautionary step of temporarily withdrawing knives and scissors from sale nationwide,” a spokesman said.
“We’re undertaking a risk assessment on our store safety controls before determining our next step.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate the understanding of our customers at this time.”
The two men were allegedly stabbed just after 8am on Monday in what police say was an “unprovoked attack”.
Police confirmed a 60-year-old male victim, of Brunswick, was waiting in the Woolworths express checkout queue when he heard shouting behind him, turned around and was allegedly stabbed.
A man fled the store and was confronted by a security guard, whom he allegedly stabbed in the back.
Police arrived quickly on the scene where the man was confronted by the critical incident response team, who used a Taser to arrest him.
Victoria Police acting senior Sgt Sam Petch said the man was taken to hospital where he received a mental health assessment and was treated for self-inflicted injuries.
Both victims were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Sgt Petch said the security guard was “very brave” for trying to intervene.
One witness doing her shopping, Suzanne Stewart, said she saw a man “running around with a knife”.
“I was scared, I was petrified,” Ms Stewart said.
“I just wanted to get away from there. I don’t know what would have happened if that security guard … didn’t step in.”
Ms Stewart said he was “yelling and screaming” for about 10 minutes while shoppers and workers at the centre kept their distance until police arrived.
She said the incident came to an end outside the EB Games shop when police intervened.
No supermarket staff were injured during the incident.
Witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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