"Vehicle Charged at Her Twice, Deliberately"... Australia in Shock as Sitting Female MP Loses Leg
Female MP Seriously Injured After Being Hit by Vehicle
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A sitting female member of Australia’s House of Representatives has suffered severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle twice, losing one leg.
According to Australian broadcaster ABC and other media outlets on October 20 (local time), Federal MP Helen Haines was struck twice by a vehicle in front of her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on the previous evening, losing one leg.
Haines was trapped between her own vehicle and the other vehicle, sustaining serious injuries to her lower body. She was taken to hospital and underwent surgery, but one of her legs had to be amputated. Medical staff are continuing treatment to try to save her other leg.
Police arrested 43-year-old Brendan Nugent as a suspect shortly after the incident. Nugent’s father and his live-in partner said in a statement that they had been friends with Haines for more than 20 years. Nugent was assessed for mental health issues while in custody after his arrest, it was confirmed.
Prime Minister Calls It a "Deliberate Attack"... Vehicle Turned Around and Struck Her Twice
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as a deliberate attack. Initial findings from the investigation indicate that the vehicle that hit Haines turned around and drove toward her.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Haines was struck by the vehicle twice.
The specific motive for the attack and whether it had a political purpose have yet to be determined. Police are investigating the exact circumstances and motive.
Ricky Jeffries, a barber who subdued the suspect, said the man had a weapon at the time. Jeffries said he intervened to prevent further people from being harmed.
Prime Minister Albanese met with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner and the Premier of Victoria in Melbourne to discuss the response to the attack on Haines.
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Haines was elected to the federal House of Representatives in 2019 after running as an independent candidate on a platform of improving healthcare services in rural areas. Since then, she has focused on strengthening integrity and transparency in politics and has called for reforms to gambling-related regulations, improvements to mental health care, and an end to the war in Gaza. Before entering politics, she worked as a midwife.
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