By Josefine Ganko
A woman was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after she was stabbed in the neck, ear and back in a gym car park in Sydney’s inner south.
Emergency services were called to Crunch Fitness Alexandria on O’Riordan Street at 12.30pm on Wednesday.
The woman was allegedly stabbed in the car park of Crunch Fitness in Alexandria.Credit: James Brickwood
Police allege the 39-year-old woman was attacked by a 40-year-old man with whom she was in a “very short domestic relationship” earlier this year.
NSW Police have identified the suspect, but say he can’t be named while they seek a warrant for his arrest. The man is known to police for past domestic violence offences.
A witness reported hearing a scream as she was leaving the car park and turned around to see a man “on top” of the woman.
“From a distance, I didn’t know what he was trying to do to her. It looked like he was trying to attack her, or trying to rob her,” the witness said.
“A guy nearer to them stopped [the attack], and then [the alleged perpetrator] just drove off.”
The witness said the woman abandoned her belongings and was helped by a bystander up the stairs and into the gym to seek help.
Witnesses videoed the suspect leaving the carpark in a grey Ford Focus with the number plate AYQ14W.Credit: Nine News
Detective Superintendent Rodney Hart described the alleged attacker as 170 centimetres tall with a muscular build, dark hair and olive/caucasian complexion.
The man was wearing a grey jacket, black pants and white sneakers, and left the scene in a 2006 grey Ford Focus hatchback with the number plate AYQ14W.
Police believe a kitchen knife was used to carry out the alleged attack, and warned the man could still be armed.
“We ask members of the public not to approach the man if they see him, please call 000,” Hart said.
Hart called for the man to hand himself in to police: “You’re going to be arrested, and you need to be put before the court.”
It was also confirmed that the woman’s injuries appear to be non-life threatening.
Police established a crime scene in the car park, where a shoe, jacket and gym bag could be seen on the ground next to a car.
The incident comes after a spate of stabbings in Sydney and a nationwide outcry for action against domestic violence in response to the deaths of a number of women allegedly killed by former partners.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the rate of domestic violence in Australia a “national crisis”, as he pledged $925 million to expand a financial support scheme for women fleeing violent relationships and promised to take further action.
Meanwhile, NSW’s knife laws have been under scrutiny since the Bondi Junction and Wakeley church stabbings in April.
The state government has already announced it will develop legislation modelled on Queensland’s so-called Jack’s Law to give police the power to “wand” or “scan” people for knives without a warrant in designated busy public areas.
Police are calling on anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.