Coles pulls knives from shelves after supermarket stabbing

Coles has reacted to a worker allegedly being stabbed by a 13-year-old boy inside one of its supermarkets with this nationwide move.

Coles will pull kitchen knives from the shelves across all Australian stores after a 63-year-old supermarket worker was allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old while stacking shelves.

Mother-of-two Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, was stocking the fridge at the back of the Coles supermarket in Yamanto Central in Ipswich shortly before 5.30pm on Monday when she was stabbed in the back with a large knife.

In the wake of the alleged attack, Coles announced on Wednesday that knives would be taken off their shelves nationwide due to increased levels of aggression and violence.

Coles is removing the sale of kitchen knives from all Australian stores. . Picture: NewsWire/ Liam Kidston

“Coles has made the decision to withdraw its range of kitchen knives from supermarkets across Australia,” a spokesperson said.

“Coles complies with all legislation regarding the sale of kitchen knives, and this withdrawal is being taken out of an abundance of caution as we conduct a review.

“The safety of our team members and customers is our No.1 priority across all aspects of our business.”

The sale of Smeg kitchen knives will still be available for redemption in Coles supermarkets at the service desk until Tuesday, January 21.

The move comes after a woman was stabbed while stacking shelves at Coles in Ipswich. Picture: NewsWire/ Liam Kidston

Police will allege the 13-year-old stabbed the 63-year-old woman with a knife from the supermarket.

It’s alleged the weapon was punctured through the woman’s back with such force that the blade emerged on the other side of her abdomen and was still embedded while she was transported to hospital.

Witnesses recounted the horrific scenes on Monday at the supermarket as the shopping centre was plunged into lockdown.

Say Sushi employee Dshering Dema heard screams and went inside the supermarket to see what was happening.

“(Ms Watt) was lying down and there was also some blood on her back,” she told the Courier-Mail.

Originally published as Coles pulls knives from shelves after supermarket stabbing