Monday, November 18, 2024

Police say stabbing of woman at Sydney gym car park was likely domestic violence-related

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A woman is in hospital after she was stabbed outside a gym in Sydney’s south by a man who police allege she had been in a relationship with.

Police say a 39-year-old woman was stabbed by a 40-year-old man at a gym car park in Alexandria about 12:30pm on Wednesday.

Police say the woman was stabbed about 12:30pm today.(ABC News)

Emergency services were called to the scene, where paramedics treated the woman.

She was then transported to hospital in a stable condition.

A crime scene has been established and police are investigating.

Police say attack likely to be domestic violence-related

South Sydney Police Area Command Superintendent Rod Hart said it was believed that the suspected offender was known to the victim and that the incident was being treated as domestic violence-related.

Superintendent Hart said that after reviewing CCTV footage and speaking with witnesses, police believe that the offender was, in the past, in a “very short domestic relationship” with the victim.

A police officer standing in front of a media conference with three microphones, 7 News, ABC and Nine News

Commander of South Sydney Police Area Command Superintendent Rod Hart said the stabbing is currently being treated as domestic violence-related.(ABC News: Melissa Mackay)

“So this has been treated as domestic violence-related,” he said.

The suspected offender was previously known to NSW Police for domestic violence.

Superintendent Hart said detectives were currently attempting to obtain an arrest warrant for a 40-year-old male.

“I want to assure the community that this was a targeted attack,” Superintendent Hart said.

“It’s horrendous what has happened to this poor victim.”

‘A really hectic five minutes’

Claire, who drove her scooter into the gym’s car park, said she saw a woman walk to a car.

“And when I was about to open the door, up to the gym, I heard a scream. It was not a normal scream.”

Claire said she then saw the man on top of the woman.

“Because of the distance, I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do to her. It looked like he was attacking her or he was trying to rob her.”

A woman with long brown hair over her shoulder and a green rainjacket.

Claire was in the car park when the woman was attacked.(ABC News)

She said she believed the man was “hiding in the car park”, as she did not see him when she arrived.

Claire said then a second man in the car park stopped the attack, with the attacker then fleeing the scene in a car.

“It was a really hectic five minutes.”

Following the attack, the second man in the car park escorted her up to the gym.

Jack, who has been attending the gym for three years and was in the gym when the attack took place, said it was the first time this has happened. 

A man with a hat outside of a gym with a gym towel over his shoulder

Jack, who was in the gym at the time of the attack, has been attending the gym for around three years.(ABC News)

“It’s kind of scary, but it’s the first time [this has happened].”

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