Boy, 13, charged with attempted murder over supermarket stabbing

A 13-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed a Coles worker in the back on Monday acted alone in what police described as an “abhorrent” random attack.

The teenager went into the supermarket at Yamanto Central, south-west of Brisbane, about 5.20pm and grabbed a knife he then used to stab a 63-year-old female worker, police said.

Detectives will allege he then fled the scene, before being caught by members of the public.

“Next thing, he was sprinting. There were like 15 people chasing after him,” a witness told Nine’s Today show.

Attending officers rendered first aid to the woman, who remains in a critical but stable condition in intensive care at Princess Alexandra Hospital. The Queensland Ambulance Service said she suffered a potentially life-threatening wound to her back.

Detective Inspector Michael Manago said the knife was still embedded in the woman’s back as she was transported to hospital.

Manago said police investigations suggested the teenager was acting alone, but the motivation remained unclear.

“We believe this is a random attack. There’s nothing to suggest that any other person was involved,” he said.

Manago would not be drawn on whether the teenager had a criminal history, and could not comment on the size or type of knife used.

“At this point, I’d just like to outline that this is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent 63-year-old woman who was going about her daily employment at that shopping centre, and it shouldn’t happen in society today,” he said.

Manago said police were still investigating how the teenager came to be in possession of the knife.

A Coles spokeswoman thanked the public for their help.

Police at the scene of Monday’s alleged stabbing in Ipswich. Credit: Nine

“Our thoughts are with our store team member and their family after the distressing incident that occurred on Monday,” she said.

“We are committed to providing them with support, as well as their colleagues, who are being offered counselling during this difficult time.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he spoke with Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, who said it was a concern.

“As Queenslanders, we’ve seen crime has run rampant over recent years and, in good part, that’s why the Crisafulli government was elected, but this matter is obviously before the court, so I won’t make any comment in relation to it specifically,” he said.

Dutton added that the Coalition had a policy to introduce uniform knife laws across Australia.

Premier David Crisafulli expressed his sympathy for the worker.

“To every one person who was in that shopping centre, it is just so traumatic, what has unfolded is something that no Queenslander wants to see,” he said.

Former premier Steven Miles said his thoughts were with the woman, and he urged the new government to give the community the support it needed during this difficult time.

The teenager’s case was heard in Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday morning, where a brief of evidence was ordered, with the matter adjourned to February 25.

The incident occurred almost a year after grandmother Vyleen White was fatally stabbed outside a Redbank Plains shopping centre.

Last year, Queensland Parliament expanded police powers to allow officers to search people in shopping centres using metal-detecting “wands”. Jack’s Law was previously only used by officers in safe night precincts and transport hubs.

Superintendent Kylie Rigg told reporters on Tuesday almost 1000 knives had been seized during 7000 operations since Jack’s Law came into force in April 2023.

She said in Ipswich alone, 74 weapons had been detected.

When asked whether local police would be increasing patrols in the area, Rigg assured the public there were no other suspects.

“This is an isolated attack, it’s a random attack. But certainly, we understand the community sentiment around safety,” she said.

“In response to this, we’re already drafting plans to conduct additional high-visibility patrols in these locations to restore community confidence.”

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